National Cabinet should find Aussie solution to 2026 Comm Games

NATIONAL cabinet should find an Australian solution to the 2026 Commonwealth Games, including liaising with Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.

NATIONAL cabinet should co-ordinate all levels of government to find an Australian solution to the 2026 Commonwealth Games, including liaising with the Gold Coast City Council, according to a Senate inquiry’s interim report.

Plans to host the athletics at the Gabba as part of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games should also be reviewed, as well as the associated demolition of East Brisbane State School, it recommended.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games have been left without a host city since Victoria’s shock cancellation of them in July, but Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has been advocating for his city to take over the duties.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate with Comm Games 2018 mascot Borobi.

Inquiry chair LNP Senator Matt Canavan said while Victoria’s cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games was not the Federal Government’s fault, it needed to take responsibility for finding a solution.

“Ultimately if we do not proceed with the 2026 Commonwealth Games … it will be our reputation, our nation, who are on the hook for it,” he said.

“The Federal Government, I must say, is doing next to nothing to help and that’s being generous.

“In contrast, we have the mayor of the Gold Coast doing more to try to help than the Federal Government.”

But Labor Senators argued in the report that the Australian Government had not been a party to the deal between the Commonwealth Games Federal and Victoria.

Comment was sought from Sports Minister Anika Wells.

Senator Matt Canavan during a senate hearing into Australia’s preparedness to host Commonwealth Games. Picture NCA NewsWire / Aaron Francis

An artist impression of the north eastern view as a major revitalisation of Woolloongabba and The Gabba Stadium is announced ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. Picture: Supplied

The report also recommended the Federal Government liaise with its Queensland counterpart and affected communities to review the decision to host the athletics at the Gabba, which would require the relocation of East Brisbane State School.

Labor Senator Linda White said while the Gabba was entirely within the state’s responsibility, the stadium would be the “central focal point of the Games”.

“At the conclusion of the Games the Gabba will also function as a world class sporting venue for Queensland,” she said.

“Given this dual purpose, it is not unreasonable for the government to upgrade the stadium.”

The Senate inquiry into the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Victorian 2026 Commonwealth Games was set up in March this year, in part due to the Palaszczuk Government’s decision to dump an independent infrastructure agency for the Games in favour of keeping it in-house.

It has yet to make any findings with regards to the independence of the Olympics infrastructure authority, but is expected to when it hands down its final report in December.