Queenslanders have been told they can never see unsuccessful designs for the state’s $3.8bn Olympic Stadium because the 2032 delivery authority wants to avoid disruptive public debate.

An application for the designs by The Courier-Mail under Right to Information laws was rejected by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Co-ordination Authority because it was also contrary to the public interest.

This is despite GIICA, in May last year, agreeing to a separate RTI request to release designs for Olympic venues that are no longer in the 2032 delivery plan.

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At the time, GIICA published 13 concept designs including for the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Arena and a Sunshine Coast Indoor Sport Centre.

Queensland’s RTI laws were designed to give access to government-held information — unless disclosure is considered to be, on balance, contrary to the public interest.

In his rejection of The Courier-Mail’s application, GIICA corporate services executive general manager Nick Elliott argued releasing designs for Victoria Park stadiums that would never be built failed that test.

Moreover, doing so could hinder the independent delivery of 2032 Olympic and Paralympic venues.

“Various architectural procurement processes are ongoing in respect of other infrastructure for Brisbane 2032,” the decision stated.

“Enhanced public debate weighing concept imagery and the aesthetic aspect of the decision for this project has the capacity to interfere with GIICA’s capacity to objectively weigh options for ongoing architectural tender processes to reach decisions and deliver the projects for Brisbane 2032 in the public interest.”

Further, Mr Elliott said revealing the designs and identifying the unsuccessful short-listed design consortiums would cause them commercial disadvantage and breach the “strictly confidential” tender process.

The decision does not say unsuccessful bidders were consulted as a third party about the request to release their designs.

Mr Elliott did acknowledge there was public interest in how taxpayer money was being spent and “the importance of accountability and transparency in government decision making”.

Acting Premier and Infrastructure Minister Jarrod Bleijie would not comment on GIICA’s reasons for rejecting the RTI.

But he said: “The Crisafulli government set up the Games Independent Infrastructure and Co-ordination Authority to ensure rigour and respect for taxpayers’ money after Labor’s 1200 days of Games Chaos, and we’re ensuring the Games remain back on track.”

Opposition Olympic and Paralympic Games spokeswoman Grace Grace said Queenslanders were promised an open and transparent government but Premier David Crisafulli was delivering “spin, suppression and secrecy”.

“When the alternative plans for Victoria Park are kept hidden, Queenslanders will rightly ask why?” she said.

“What is this LNP government hiding?

“The Olympic Games are supposed to be for all of Queenslanders, but it’s obvious now the Premier doesn’t care what taxpayers think.”

Major construction firms BESIX Watpac and Built are now competing for the rights to build the 2032 centrepiece in collaboration with the design team.

It’s understood a decision on who will be the chosen builder could still be months away, with the design to be finalised early next year.

GIICA declined to comment on the RTI decision.