Documents obtained under right-to-information laws reveal Queensland's Arts Minister approved the name for Brisbane's new 1,500-seat theatre months before a public consultation process to select a name was initiated. The venue, now officially named the Glasshouse Theatre, opened in March 2026 as the fifth theatre in the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) complex.
The minister, Leanne Linard, has defended the decision, stating the name 'Glasshouse' was chosen to reflect the building's architectural design and had been used as a working title for years during its development. She stated the subsequent public vote, which offered a shortlist of names including 'Glasshouse', was a genuine consultation to gauge community sentiment.
Opposition arts spokesperson, Jarrod Bleijie, criticized the process, calling it a "sham consultation" that wasted public funds and misled the community. The government has maintained that the public feedback was considered, but the pre-approved 'Glasshouse' name aligned with the venue's identity and was ultimately confirmed.
