• The Yagara and Magandjin peoples request federal protection for Victoria Park.
• A legal application highlights concerns over ancient trees and ancestral remains.
• The Queensland government plans to build a 63,000-seat stadium for the 2032 Olympics.
• Legislation has exempted Olympic projects from normal planning rules, raising protest.

A group representing Brisbane's Indigenous peoples has officially requested the Australian federal government to protect the inner city Victoria Park, known as Barrambin, where a 63,000-seat stadium is planned for the 2032 Olympics. The Yagara and Magandjin peoples seek to classify the area under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act, emphasizing its cultural significance. Elders from the Yagara Magandjin Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) express concern over "sacred, ancient" relationships with the land, which may include significant ecosystems and ancestral remains, stating, "We stand resolute in our responsibility to protect it," according to Reuters, BBC, and Dawn.

The Queensland government, after years of political contention, plans to move forward with the stadium project, having allocated significant funding for its construction at Victoria Park. The project recently faced criticism when recent legislation permitted Olympic construction to bypass standard planning regulations, concerns regarding environmental implications and Indigenous rights surfaced strongly during community discussions. A spokesperson for the Save Victoria Park campaign labeled the legislation "unprecedented" and warned of irreversible loss of heritage, as noted in statements released by both YMAC and Save Victoria Park, according to BBC, and Dawn.

The planned stadium is aimed at hosting key events during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, including the opening and closing ceremonies. However, community members express skepticism about the claims of being the first Games with a Reconciliation Action Plan, highlighting the stark contrast with the realities of land development being proposed, according to Reuters and BBC.

As local opposition continues to grow against the development, Brisbane's Lord Mayor has maintained confidence in the project's progression, suggesting that public objections to the development will be met but emphasizing the need for the stadium's construction to support the Olympic infrastructure. This statement reinforces the government's commitment to the timeline for delivering the venues ahead of the Games, as reported by Reuters, and BBC.