"Glasshouse Theatre" Name Approved Months Before Public Consultation
A new 1,500-seat theatre in Brisbane, part of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), has been named the Glasshouse Theatre. Government documents reveal that the Arts Minister approved this name in February 2025, several months before a public consultation process began in April 2025. This decision has sparked criticism over the transparency and fairness of the naming process.
Concurrently, the state electorate of Oodgeroo is slated for renaming to Cleveland, a change lobbied for by the Liberal National Party.
Theatre Naming Process Unveiled
The Glasshouse Theatre, which opened to the public on March 7, is now the fifth theatre at QPAC, making it Australia's largest performing arts center under one roof. Performances are scheduled to commence from April 9.
Minister's Early Approval
Government documents obtained under right to information laws show that Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek formally approved the name "Glasshouse Theatre" on February 3, 2025. This approval followed an indication from a government advisor on January 29, 2025, that the Minister preferred the name.
This timeline placed the decision prior to both consultation with the QPAC board and the initiation of a public vote.
In March 2024, the QPAC board had recommended the name "Oodgeroo Noonuccal" to the then-Labor Arts Minister, Leeanne Enoch. The board described Oodgeroo Noonuccal as an "influential storyteller and truth-teller" known for her legacy of resilience and commitment to justice.
QPAC's Concerns and Alternative Suggestions
Two weeks after Minister Langbroek's approval of "Glasshouse Theatre," QPAC Chief Executive Rachel Healy communicated concerns to the Minister's office. Ms. Healy cited potential confusion with other Australian venues sharing the name, including one in Port Macquarie.
QPAC Chief Executive Rachel Healy suggested "The Watershed" as an alternative name and noted that QPAC's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group had recommended "Oodgeroo."
Public Consultation and Final Decision
Minister Langbroek initiated public consultation in April, two weeks after his approval of the "Glasshouse" name. The public was invited to vote on a list of names—Glasshouse, Lantern, Watershed, Russell Street—or to submit their own suggestions. Crucially, Oodgeroo Noonuccal was not included as an option in this public poll.
In July, Minister Langbroek announced "The Glasshouse" as the chosen name, stating it followed a month-long consultation process. Over 5,000 votes were cast, with "Glasshouse" receiving 42 percent. Only five respondents suggested "Oodgeroo."
Government Defends Decision
Minister Langbroek stated that the government "put the decision [of the theatre's name] in the hands of Queenslanders," and that "Glasshouse Theatre" was the government's "preferred name" which Queenslanders "overwhelmingly backed." Attorney-General Deb Frecklington commented on the transparency of the process, suggesting a formal announcement had not been made before public input was received.
Premier David Crisafulli defended the name, emphasizing its marketability and stating it came from Queenslanders.
The Premier acknowledged Oodgeroo Noonuccal's significance and indicated that the government is considering other ways to honor her. A QPAC spokesperson confirmed that as a government-owned building, the theatre's naming was a matter for the government of the day.
Criticisms Mount Over Process
Shadow Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch criticized the process as an "absolute insult" and a "sham process," particularly regarding the omission of the Oodgeroo Theatre suggestion. Minister Langbroek responded that the Oodgeroo name had not been advanced by the previous Labor government when they were in power.
Oodgeroo's oldest grandson, Raymond Walker, described the decision as "disrespectful."
Jennifer Mills, chair of the Australian Society of Authors, commented that the decision appeared to be "political interference in the arts" that downplayed an Indigenous legacy favored by the community.
Concurrent Electorate Renaming
Concurrently with the theatre naming, the state electorate of Oodgeroo is slated for renaming. The Liberal National Party submitted a request last year for the Oodgeroo electorate to be renamed, a proposal taken up by the Queensland Redistribution Commission. The suggested new name is Cleveland, aligning with a suburb it covers.
The LNP's submission argued for "intuitive and geographically grounded" electorate names while also advocating for retaining names such as Captain James Cook, Augustus Charles Gregory, and Alfred Traeger in the same submission.
Honoring Oodgeroo Noonuccal
Oodgeroo Noonuccal, born Kath Ruska in 1920, was a pioneering Aboriginal poet and activist. Her 1964 work, We Are Going, was the first published book of verse by an Aboriginal person. She was widely recognized for her activism for Aboriginal rights.
Her name is used for various poetry competitions, university rooms, scholarships, and was previously used for the state electorate of Oodgeroo.