Overview
- A letter obtained under right-to-information rules and published in late July 2026 shows mining magnate Gina Rinehart personally wrote to Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie urging Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River be considered for Olympic rowing and canoeing.
- Queensland’s LNP government formally awarded the events to Rockhampton in March 2025 despite a Games Independent Infrastructure Coordination Authority 100-day review recommending the Sydney International Regatta Centre at Penrith.
- Rinehart’s undated letter said the Fitzroy offered training history and would “save taxpayer money” while showcasing regional and mining heritage; Hancock Prospecting says the note aimed only to outline local benefits and denied any personal gain.
- Bleijie has not disclosed when he received the letter or what influence it had and the government has defended the Rockhampton pick as delivering regional legacy, while Rowing Australia and others point to serious site work required, including widening and dredging.
- The disclosure intensifies scrutiny of wealthy political patrons shaping public infrastructure choices and could prompt demands for greater transparency, cost reviews of required river works, and closer oversight of venue decision-making ahead of the 2032 Games.