MAYORS around Queensland are vying for the chance to host a major pre-G-20 Summit meeting in their city, but Ipswich's Paul Pisasale is playing it cool.
"We're talking about a very important meeting of leaders, and the cheapest and safest option would be Ipswich," Cr Pisasale said.
Cr Pisasale said he hoped the city would be considered alongside regional centres such as Townsville and Cairns as a possible site for the G-20 Finance Meeting in 2014.
"Our Safe City cameras would keep the finance ministers safe, and we've got the RAAF Base here, too."
"I believe we have the infrastructure; the ministers could use the plane and helicopter facilities at Amberley," he said.
"It's not a tourism thing, the city would have to be placed on red alert and we would keep the ministers completely safe.
"It's not our decision to make, but I'm happy to put up my hand."
Metro Hotel Ipswich International manager Ted Matthews said hosting the meeting in Ipswich would only add to the benefit of the summit.
"We're already very excited, and we certainly would see Ipswich benefiting from the summit," Mr Matthews said.
"I don't know that we have the infrastructure to host the pre-meeting, but I would like to see this hotel used as a base for a delegation or even a media group.
"The NBN should be up and running by then, so we could act as a great hub.
"We already have a close relationship with Brisbane Marketing, and we've already started looking to talk to people."
G-20 SUMMITS
- The G-20 a group of 19 countries and the European Union.
- It is aimed at "promoting international economic co-operation", the Australian Government states.
- Leaders, finance ministers and reserve banks from countries including China, Russia, the US, UK and India will attend.
- Australia will host the ninth annual G-20 Summit in 2014.
- Russia will host the 2013 Summit.
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