Department of Jobs boss Tim Ada defends decision not to tell Harriet Shing games were in jeopardy

A senior bureaucrat has defended his decision not to inform a key minister that lawyers had been called in to potentially cancel the Commonwealth Games as he believed somebody else would tell her.

A senior bureaucrat has defended his decision to not inform a key minister that the future of the Commonwealth Games was in jeopardy.

The Herald Sun revealed the state opposition has requested the Public Sector Commissioner launch an investigation into whether two of the state’s highest ranking bureaucrats “contravened the Public Administration Act … by breaching the duty of candour to advise a Minister of matters relating to the Department”.

A parliamentary inquiry last month heard Department of Premier and Cabinet secretary Jeremi Moule told Department of Jobs boss Tim Ada on June 19 that lawyers had been called in to potentially cancel the sporting extravaganza.

But following a request from former Premier Daniel Andrews, Mr Moule directed Mr Ada to not pass that information on to former Commonwealth Games Legacy Minister Harriet Shing, who at the time was tasked with ensuring legacy benefits from the 12-day sporting event.

Mr Ada, whose job it is to advise ministers about issues within their portfolio areas, conceded that request put him in an awkward position.

Harriet Shing was the Commonwealth Games Legacy Minister. Picture: David Crosling

Fronting the parliamentary inquiry into the Games’ cancellation for a second time on Tuesday, Mr Ada said he was provided an assurance that Ms Shing would subsequently be told by a member of the government.

“There are a number of factors which led me to believe it was reasonable not to disclose information to Minister Shing. I was not withholding information from the government, the government already had the confidential information,” he said.

“I understand that the Public Administration Act requires a person in my role to advise ministers on matters related to the Department but I would also note that the obligations set out in Section 13 of the Act do not operate in isolation.

“… Under the terms of my employment contract … I am subject to separate duties to obey lawful and reasonable duties made by the Premier.”

The inquiry also heard that the total costs of the Games’ incurred by the Department of Jobs is expected to reach $197m. That is in addition to the $380m compensation fee that taxpayers will be charged to break the contract.

Vicsport boss shocked over lack of Comm Games apology

The boss of Victoria’s peak community sporting body admits she is shocked the state government still hasn’t apologised to the industry and budding young athletes for crushing their dreams by pulling out of the Commonwealth Games.

Vicsport chief executive Lisa Hasker on Tuesday told the parliamentary inquiry into the event’s cancellation of her fears that the Commonwealth Games’ brand may never recover from the ordeal.

She also spoke of her concerns that the state’s reputation would also remain tarnished.

“Obviously this cancellation has been a big media event, it’s continuing to be discussed, it’s in people’s psyches. People are noticing from other states, people are noticing from overseas. That’s got to create a dent in the reputation,” she said.

“You just worry that people might think ‘oh we won’t go there … we might not be supported’. I hope that doesn’t happen but it’s a worry in the back of my mind.

“International people that watch our sport from afar, you know expats, say ‘oh not a good look’.”

VicSport represents 16,000 clubs and associations and more than 3.9 million participants.

VicSport chief executive Lisa Hasker says she’s shocked the government hasn’t apologised over axing the Commonwealth Games. Picture: Ian Currie.

In her submission before the inquiry, Ms Hasker said the tone used by former Premier Daniel Andrews to cancel the Games’ was “disappointing” and “dismissive of the many athletes, coaches, administrators and volunteers who have been working hard to maximise the benefits of a home event”.

Ms Hasker told the inquiry she was surprised that Mr Andrews never apologised to the community sport sector.

“Personally I was and as an industry leader I was because there’s 3.9 million people involved in sport and recreation in Victoria. It’s a lot of people. It’s a big percentage of our community,” she said.

“There’s a lot of lead-up work. There’s a lot of excitement. There’s a lot of meetings, regional travel opportunities, forming of taskforces.”

Asked if the industry had been offered an apology, Ms Hasker said: “No, but you know, I don’t think I really expected one.”

“Obviously everyone feels some disappointment, but the main disappointment was around the athletes, particularly the Paralympians. It’s the only Games where they are integrated into the major event, so that’s quite shattering for them.”

Consultants forced to do ‘desktop research’

The consultants tasked with estimating the cost of the botched 2026 Commonwealth Games were forced to build their business case purely from “desktop research” and were not allowed to undertake any site visits or speak with stakeholders.

Representatives from consultancy firms Ernst and Young, DHW Ludus and MI Associates on Tuesday fronted the Victorian parliamentary inquiry into the cancellation of the 12-day sporting event.

Consultants were not allowed to visit Commonwealth Games sites, like this one in Corio. Picture: Alan Barber

Ernst and Young partner Dean Yates conceded the consultancy firm was hamstrung by government secrecy and time constraints of just six weeks.

“If we had more time, we would’ve spoken to more stakeholders, we would’ve visited a few more venues and I suppose, summing it up, we would have been able to do more due diligence than we were allowed to do,” he said.

“The scope we were working against was very tightly defined by the Department. Desktop research was all we could do in the timeframe.”

The consultancy firm said they would have visited the sites if given more time. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Ernst and Young’s business case, which was accepted by the government, had predicted it would cost taxpayers $2.6bn to hold the 12-day sporting extravaganza across multiple locations in regional Victoria.

It was largely based on the costs to hold previous single-city Commonwealth Games’ events held in Gold Coast and Birmingham.

Former Premier Daniel Andrews sensationally cancelled the regionally-focused event in July this year after the total cost threatened to blow out to more than $6bn.

Mr Andrews has previously referred to the business case as “hardly the greatest piece of work ever done”.

The Andrews government tasked Ernst and Young with the business case. Picture: Ian Currie.

The inquiry heard the former Andrews government approached Ernst and Young directly to undertake the business case.

Given the confidential nature of the government’s interest to host the event, the contract to undertake a business case could not be put to tender.

Mr Yates said it is not uncommon for consultants to be called to undertake work with little notice and under confidential circumstances.

“This was a particularly tight piece of work,” he said.

Originally published as Department of Jobs boss Tim Ada defends decision not to tell Harriet Shing games were in jeopardy