"So the fact that their Sydney Exhibition and Convention Centre is closed for the next three years, I think that will be their number three. Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard with other world leaders at the G20 Summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, in June. Credit:Reuters/Jason Reed "We're coming to get them on a whole range of events in this city over the next few years." Prime Minister Julia Gillard this morning defended her government's decision to host the G20 summit of world leaders in Brisbane, describing the Queensland capital as a "world-class city".

Ms Gillard this morning confirmed Brisbane would host the G20 summit in November 2014, estimating it would result in a $50 million cash injection into the city's economy. The decision to choose Brisbane was fiercely criticised by those south of the border, with Mr Hazzard, the NSW Planning and Infrastructure Minister, accusing the Prime Minister of playing politics. Brad Hazzard ... hit out at the choice of Brisbane over Sydney. Credit:Jon Reid He declared: "Sydney is the only true world city of Australia". ‘‘We have the Opera House that can cater for thousands of people, we have the Museum of Contemporary Art; we'd made arrangements and offered them some excellent provisions of services through the Botanic Gardens but, instead, they're going to cop the Convention Centre on the Brisbane River,’’ he said.

‘‘What the leaders of Russia and Britain will think when they're told they're going to go to Brisbane over Sydney one only can guess. ‘‘The city of Brisbane is a great city. The people of Queensland are great people, but when it comes down to which city is the gateway from the world to Australia there’s no question - Sydney. For the rest of their lives it does mean that people like the president of the United States, the prime minister of India, the president of China, will be able to say to people, 'I went to Brisbane'. ‘‘The G20 leaders really should have been treated to Sydney, not Brisbane.’’ Mr Hazzard said the decision was an attempt to reverse Labor's poor performances in Queensland at the most recent state and federal elections.

"She's chosen Brisbane simply to use the leaders of the world as political pawns in her game to try and win back the votes across Queensland," Mr Hazzard said. "It's insulting to the 20 leaders." But addressing the media in Brisbane this morning, Ms Gillard said the city's bid to host the annual meeting was a "standout". "I also do think it gives a great opportunity to say to the world that we are a nation of many world-class cities; Brisbane is one of them," she said. "And you know for the rest of their lives it does mean that people like the president of the United States, the prime minister of India, the president of China, will be able to say to people, 'I went to Brisbane'. They'll recall their days here, their time here, and feel a sense of connection with this great place.

"I'm very confident that in 2014 Brisbane will be there on the world stage and I'm also very confident that we will see 20 world leaders jet in but we will see 20 fully-fledged Queenslanders fly out." Ms Gillard pointed out the city had more than two years to prepare, and she expected the community would get involved and want to volunteer. Queensland Premier Campbell Newman had little sympathy for NSW, saying the southern state's loss was the sunshine state's gain. "We've beaten them seven times in a row in the State of Origin and now we've secured the G20 2014 Leaders' Meeting from our southern neighbours," Mr Newman said. "A number of states put forward bids and Queensland won fair and square due to our world-class facilities including the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, transport options, airport and accommodation."

State Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said the G20 summit would be an opportunity to showcase the state to the world. “I’m very pleased that the G20 is coming to Queensland,” she told reporters in Brisbane this afternoon. Asked whether Queensland could afford to host the event, Ms Palaszczuk said the state and federal governments should come to an agreement on the cost issue. “These are issues now that the Premier must discuss with the Prime Minister, but I think the Premier should stop being negative and be positive,” she said. In an interview on Sky News, Mr Newman said Queensland’s tourism industry would benefit from the G20.

“This is just the sort of boost we needed to get it really humming along again. I’m sure that this news will really encourage people to make investments in the weeks and months ahead,’’ he said. Mr Newman declined to be drawn on NSW government frontbencher Mr Hazzard’s complaint that Brisbane was selected for political reasons. But the Queensland Premier did buy into the interstate rivalry. “The Newman family actually arrived in Sydney in 1854 in groups from Ireland and Germany,’’ Mr Newman said. “My family have always loved Sydney but I guess ... I saw the light and I moved up here about 25 years ago.

“This city, this state has now really come of age.’’ Airport, renovations hampered Sydney bid Ms Gillard said Sydney's bid was not helped by the fact its principal convention centre had long-standing renovations planned for the time of the summit, as well as concern over the ability of Sydney Airport to cope with the influx of world leaders. "Look I can understand a sense of disappointment; we could only make this happen for one city," Ms Gillard said. "Sydney was in a situation where its main convention facility was actually out of action for the critical time period ... and then of course there were some concerns about the restrictions at Sydney Airport, which is under a lot of day-to-day pressure.

"Here in Brisbane your major convention facility is in fantastic nick, and was ready to be swung into full operation for this event, and the airport with the new Airport Link [tunnel] is in a position to deal with the pressure that will come with so many world leaders all arriving in quite a compressed window of time and then leaving in quite a compressed window of time as well." Brisbane lord mayor Graham Quirk agreed the Queensland capital had blossomed into a "new world city", the marketing slogan used on the city's promotional material. "This well and truly makes Brisbane Australia's new world city and is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our city to the world. "It provides an opportunity to showcase our city and an economic boost for our city as well. "Last month I foreshadowed that the 2013 closure of Sydney's largest conventions venue would provide more opportunities for Brisbane to get more events and conventions business to boost our local economy."

Who will pay for the summit? Ms Gillard this morning glossed over reports of a battle brewing between the state and federal governments over who will pay for the summit. Mr Newman has reportedly said Queensland has no money to pay, but federal Treasurer Wayne Swan said it was his understanding the Queensland government would pitch in. Ms Gillard would only say this morning that the two governments would work "in partnership". "We're obviously prepared to make the arrangements for this to go off well for Queensland and for Australia and I'm sure Premier Newman's prepared to do the same."

Mr Newman said it was up to the federal government to pay for the bulk of the summit. "As this event is clearly a Commonwealth government responsibility, agreement has been reached that the Commonwealth will pay the majority of costs, as it has with similar events in other states,’’ he said. The federal government would give the state additional funds to pay for the necessary security during the summit, Mr Newman said. ‘‘Importantly, the Australian government has also given an undertaking that no Queensland community will be left with inadequate police resources due to the summit,’’ he said. Mr Newman said the Commonwealth had given a good faith agreement to bring forward works to upgrade the city’s communications network.

Ms Gillard said the Commonwealth had allocated $370 million for the cost of the G20. "It is expensive to host because of all the associated arrangements including security arrangements for an event this large," she said. "But it's very important for the global economy; it means Australia has a special ability to stamp its mark on the G20 and stamp our mark on the future direction of the global economy." Numerous high-profile world leaders would descend on Queensland including the president of the United States and the British prime minister, with the November 15 and 16 summit expected to focus on economic issues. An associated meeting of G20 finance leaders would take place in a Queensland regional location that was yet to be confirmed.

With trade and labour conferences to precede the G20 conference, about 7000 people are expected to attend, including 3000 members of the world media. "Directly into the Brisbane economy this will be an injection of a considerable amount of money," Ms Gillard said. "We are talking about $20 million in hotel accommodation alone, around $30 million in all of the services that need to be sourced locally to make a major event like this happen." Loading Members of the G20 are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, Britain, the United States and the European Union.

- with Georgia Waters, Bridie Jabour, Daniel Hurst and AAP