Allan government accused of purposely hampering Comm Games inquiry
The state government has been accused of purposely hampering a parliamentary inquiry into Victoria’s cancelled Commonwealth Games.
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The Allan government has been accused of purposely hampering a parliamentary inquiry into Victoria’s cancelled Commonwealth Games.
In an interim report published on Tuesday, Select Committee on the 2026 Commonwealth Games Bid chair David Limbrick said the government had refused to co-operate with the inquiry.
“It must be said that the Committee does not have the full picture of what went on, particularly when it comes to the considerations and decisions of the executive Government,” he said.
“The Government has not provided the Committee with much of the information it has requested and summoned.
“In declining to provide this information it has cited a self-defined classification of executive privilege that is so broad it has covered all but a few of the documents the Committee has asked for.
“The Government is accountable to the parliament and through the parliament to the people of Victoria.
“It should not set the conditions by which it is held to account.”
Jacinta Allan, former premier Daniel Andrews and former major events minister Martin Pakula all refused to testify before the inquiry.
The report revealed for the first time that two advisers to Mr Andrews also refused to give evidence, claiming ministerial immunity.
In a damning finding the committee said it did not accept that the immunity should apply.
In November the Herald Sun revealed Ms Allan had put the committee on notice, warning the government would fiercely protect its right to keep information confidential.
In an October 7 letter Ms Allan said the government would maintain a consistent approach to executive privilege meaning a range of documents and witnesses would be protected from disclosure.
On Wednesday Mr Limbrick will move a motion in parliament calling for the release of documents relating to the cancelled Games bid including ministerial briefings.
If the government refuses to hand the documents over within one month, an independent arbiter may be appointed to determine whether they should be released.
“This was a systemic failure. I don’t think you could point to any one single thing and say ‘that was it’,” he said.
“It was a system failure through decision making, through some of the advice provided and some of the constraints that was put on independent consultants.”
Opposition MP and committee member David Davis on Tuesday said the Games’ saga was a “shambles”.
“It’s clear the reputation of Victoria was damaged significantly through this process,” he said.
“It’s also clear that enormous waste has occurred.”
A final report will be tabled in April next year.
Last month Victoria’s auditor general, Andrews Greaves, published a report from a separate inquiry which blamed a lack of due diligence and bureaucratic incompetence for the games debacle.
He called for a comprehensive review into why key agencies did not work together effectively to give frank, full and timely advice to the government.
The government has already rejected calls for this review.
He also cast doubt over government claims of a cost blowout to almost $7bn, saying the figure was overstated.
Mr Greaves found the cancelled event had cost Victoria $589m including $150m in employee and operating costs.
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