The Comm Games fiasco is only really noteworthy because of the global humiliation involved

When you look at the $1.1bn flushed down the toilet on the East West Link cancellation, or the $3bn blowout on the Metro Tunnel, $600m to not host the Commonwealth Games could almost be seen as a bargain.

From time immemorial the men and women of the Scottish nation have enjoyed a well-earned reputation for being “careful” with money.

But even they would have to admit it’s taking thrift to a whole new level to get the taxpayers in a colony on the other side of the world to pay for their two week global sporting festival.

Yet thanks to the stupidity of the Victorian government that’s exactly what will be happening when Glasgow hosts the Commonwealth Games in two years’ time.

It would be something if this $600 million fiasco, which includes $380 million in cancellation fess – $200 million of which will be going to Scotland – were the biggest financial screw up of this government.

The state government’s stupidity has led to Victorian taxpayers footing the bill for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Picture: Ian Currie

But alas, as embarrassments go, it’s only really noteworthy because of the global humiliation involved.

Compared to $1.1 billion flushed down the toilet a decade ago when the East West Link was cancelled, or the $3 billion cost blowout on the Metro Tunnel or the $3.5 billion extra we’re paying for the Westgate Tunnel – let alone $10 billion blowout on North East Link – $600 million to not host the Commonwealth Games could almost be considered a bargain.

Paying for Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games could also be seen as rational – indeed almost thrifty – when placed alongside the news that Victoria’s Parliamentary Budget Office is warning that every $1 the state government spends on the Suburban Rail Loop will only return 70 cents.

That revelation comes hard on the heels of the news that the Albanese Government is still refusing to hand over the $2.2 billion it promised before it came to power because the Allan Government is refusing to submit the business case it is demanding.

The Suburban Rail Loop is set to only return 70 cents on every dollar invested.

This followed on from the recent warning by ratings agency S&P the state risking a credit downgrade which will raise its borrowing costs, if the federal government doesn’t kick in more money for the $34 billion project.

Really when you look at the bigger picture, wasting $600 million to send the Commonwealth Games to Glasgow is one of this Government’s more prudent decisions.

Originally published as The Comm Games fiasco is only really noteworthy because of the global humiliation involved