Gold Coast business lobby calls for GC2026 Commonwealth Games as Premier says no way

Australia and the world was understandably shocked by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ announcement the state would no longer host the 2026 Commonwealth Games but should the GC say no?

Australia and the world was understandably shocked by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ announcement the state would no longer host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Australia and the world was understandably shocked by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ announcement the state would no longer host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

It was just five years ago that the Gold Coast played home to one of the world’s great sporting events and was so successful that it was hailed as the new model to take it forward in the decades to come.

The Gold Coast was then the benchmark for the 2022 Games in Birmingham which went off without a hitch.

The Gold Coast hosted the 2018 Commonwealth Games (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Now the very future of the Commonwealth Games appears to be at stake and it, in the words of former premier and GC2018 boss Peter Beattie, is experiencing an existential crisis.

NSW, Queensland and South Australia all quickly ruled themselves out of contention to become the new hosts but not everyone is entirely convinced.

Acting Mayor Donna Gates left the door opening to the city holding some events if another location was its primary host.

Meanwhile, while the Gold Coast business community, led by chamber of commerce boss Martin Hall, has expressed strong support for another local Games.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Picture: Sky News

He argues that the city has the infrastructure and sporting facilities to make it a reality within three years and would open the door to the state government fast-tracking new accommodation for athletes, something which long-term would take pressure off the struggling housing sector.

Mr Hall on Thursday called for an “adult conversation” on the matter.

While nobody is saying the state should spend billions on another sporting event, given the Olympic Games commitments and the global cost-of-living struggles, an off-the-cuff rejection was perhaps too hasty.

Many Gold Coasters are wondering why the idea was not given serious consideration given the existing infrastructure and the global kudos which would come with rescuing and hosting a successful event.

Calls to scrap the Olympic Games because of the current economic headwinds are absurd and show a blinkered view of the situation and the long-term benefits which will come with it.

‘Huge opportunity’: Gold Coast push to host 2026 Comm Games

The Gold Coast’s peak business lobby is calling for the city to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, declaring it a major economic boost and southeast Queensland housing crisis solution.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday announced his government was ditching the regional Games because its cost had almost tripled blowing out to more than $7bn.

The move has left the international sporting event homeless with just three years to go.

But Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall said rural Victoria’s loss should be southeast Queensland’s gain and called Mr Andrews’ decision a “blessing in disguise”.

He pointed to many venues left behind by the Gold Coast hosting of the 2018 Commonwealth Games and a growing reputation as one of the world’s great sporting cities.

“If this is not at the front of their mind then I don’t know what is, because we are already 80 per cent of the way there with the venues,” he said.

“It would be a huge opportunity for a forward-thinking government to get behind and dovetail in a solution to the housing crisis.

The Queen's Baton, carried by batonbearer Cate Campbell, in Surfers Paradise, a day before the Commonwealth Games started in April 2018. Not everyone on the Gold Coast is against the city pitching up to host the abandoned 2026 event.

“This would help supercharge housing construction here (to house the tens of thousands of athletes) and would lead to a massive legacy of low-cost housing for the future.

“This decision is a blessing in disguise and it would leave behind a significant legacy.”

Acting Mayor Donna Gates doubted the Gold Coast was in a position to take over as sole host of 2026 but left the door open to host some Commonwealth Games events.

Cr Gates said all of the city’s Commonwealth Games-built venues were leased in advance and it would be difficult to host a full Commonwealth Games but admitted the city was open to taking on some events if needed.

Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall is calling for the city to step up and host Commonwealth Games 2026. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Cr Gates said she had not yet spoken to Mayor Tom Tate after the Victorian Government’s shock decision but it was “not realistic” for the Gold Coast to host the whole thing at short notice, despite a strong balance book.

“Every level of government right now has a focus on cost of living pressures,” she said.

“I’ve not spoken to other councillors, the mayor is obviously away and we have not been approached by anyone but at this point we are focused on our ratepayers, looking after them and the 2032 Olympic Games.”

Gold Coast deputy mayor Donna Gates is open to some events being hosted in 2026 on the Gold Coast but not the whole show. Photo: Jake Larsden

The Gold Coast and southeast Queensland should proceed with hosting the 2032 Olympic Games, she said.

“Our Commonwealth Games were so successful because they were very well planned over 10 years and this will be said for the 2032 Olympics,” she said. “Our bank balance is strong, we have been financially prudent and we are in a good shape.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk doesn’t think hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2026 in the Gold Coast and Queensland is a goer. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk ruled out the state abandoning the 2032 Olympic Games, insisting the state’s financial position was dramatically different from Victoria.

Ms Palaszczuk also added neither the Gold Coast, nor Queensland itself was in a financial position to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

“Even though the Gold Coast is a wonderful venue, it does have the venues and infrastructure and transport, we cannot afford to spend more money on another Games, we are committed to the Olympics, focused on the Olympics but there may be an opportunity for another state.

“(Victoria) was in a completely different situation, they hadn’t built the venues and we are under the new normal.”

Asked about the commitment to the Olympics, she said: “We are 100 per cent committed.”

Commonwealth Games Australian CEO Craig Phillips said: “We need to find ourselves a host. We will be working with the Commonwealth Games Federation on whether that can be here in Australia. Certainly interested in talking to any state that may have an appetite for hosting the Games.”