Editor’s view: Queensland must learn from Dan’s abject failure

Melbourne has relinquished its crown as the nation’s sporting capital – a crown that Queensland should grasp with both hands, writes the editor

• Brisbane 2032 Games ‘safe’
• Gold Coast push shot down

Melbourne has relinquished its crown as the nation’s sporting capital – a crown that Queensland should grasp with both hands.

The disgraceful decision by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, then withdraw at no notice with less than 1000 days to go is embarrassing and damaging.

Unfortunately, it is not simply reflecting badly on Melbourne, Victoria or the Andrews government. This will damage Australia’s reputation as a safe pair of hands to host global events.

The timing of it couldn’t be worse. Australia is hosting the world’s third-largest sporting event, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, from tomorrow, yet Mr Andrews chose now to breach contract and leave the Games in a spin.

The Commonwealth Games’ brand was damaged after a disastrous Delhi Games in 2010.

It saw corruption allegations, high-profile athletes pull out, unfinished and hastily constructed buildings and a raft of security concerns.

Queensland is well placed to become Australia’s new sporting capital but we must learn from Victoria’s failings, writes the editor.

Yet it was Australia, through the highly-successful 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games that helped restore the event’s reputation. These were delivered on time, on budget and left a sporting legacy for the city.

It delivered a boost to the state’s economy of $2.5 billion, while only costing about $1.5 billion to host, according to the state government’s post-Games economic report done by Griffith University. It showed the Games could still be relevant, exciting and value for money.

Yet the controversial cancellation of the Victorian 2026 Commonwealth Games has instantly undone all this good work.

It was already a late bid, as the Games struggled to find a host.

Now the Andrews government has left the Commonwealth Games organisers both in Australia and London scrambling to find another last-minute host.

Mr Andrews’ claims about cost frankly do not hold water.

He claimed it would cost $6-7 billion, up from the $2.6 billion he expected just last year but waved away questions about where this figure came from, after claiming it was done by consultants.

Commonwealth Games Australia CEO Craig Phillips said the Victorian government had not even shown him its costings, saying he found it “very hard to believe”.

Don’t be fooled to think this does not impact Queensland, because it surely does.

These events do not happen in a vacuum and it sends a bad message about Australia’s ability to host major events around the world.

The Australian Olympic Committee, Palaszczuk government and others will need to reassure the International Olympic Committee that Queensland will not renege.

International athletes who have already begun their preparation for 2026 have had their plans thrown into a spin. Those with an eye toward 2032 may already be questioning whether the same could happen again.

It is hard to believe that Mr Andrews’ comment that it was not worth spending $6-7 billion on a 12- day event – even if it was split 50-50 with the Commonwealth – was innocent. His words just happened to describe almost the exact funding deal between the Queensland and federal Governments.

It does not help that the usual wowsers have already called for the 2032 Brisbane Games to be axed. The Greens were first off the mark to demand Brisbane cut and run from the world’s biggest sporting event, saying events like the Commonwealth and Olympic Games come at a huge cost to housing, public services, schools and hospitals.

Robbie Katter and Katter’s Australian Party also jumped on the bandwagon, telling Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to “read to the room”.

It is far too simple a reading of the situation to say the Games cost money and that could be spent elsewhere. The impact of the Olympic and Paralympic Games goes well beyond the four weeks of the events.

It is job creating, both in the lead-up to and beyond the event. It puts the region on the map and helps drive tourism. Vital road and rail projects are fast-tracked and delivered, while it helps inspire young people to take up sport and promotes healthier lifestyles.

If there is a key message for the Queensland government and 2032 organisers in this, it is the importance of transparent and independent governance.

The Victorian government did not engage with the Australian Government on its bid, it kept the details entirely in-house.

This is why the Palaszczuk government needs to deliver the independent oversight authority it promised, before reneging and keeping the oversight within the Premier’s office.

Queensland is well placed to pick up the shards of the broken crown and become Australia’s new sporting capital. But not if the Palaszczuk government continues to hide from scrutiny, which can only lead to bad outcomes in planning major events.