Andrews government spent $700,000 on swanky Commonwealth Games office renovations

In another blow to taxpayers, the Andrews government spent $700,000 on renovations for a swanky new Commonwealth Games office for the now scrapped 2026 event.

Taxpayers have been slugged $700,000 for a swanky new head office for Commonwealth Games preparations, despite the 2026 event being sensationally tossed.

The “Paris-end”, eco-friendly, eighth floor office at 8 Exhibition St Melbourne was set to become the home for Commonwealth Games co-ordination at a cost to $650,000 to taxpayers.

But a public tender document has revealed renovation costs for the premium office space, with views of the Dandenong Ranges and Royal Botanic Gardens, had blown out by more than $40,000 to $693,119.23 by the time the Andrews government ditched the Games earlier this month.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews sensationally spiked the regional Commonwealth Games. Picture: James Ross

The government assured that the freshly renovated space would still be used by government staffers, with the modern new rooms to become extra meeting areas.

The Herald Sun questioned the hefty $700,000 price tag, which was explained by increased contractor and materials costs.

In preparations for the failed Games, the government also spent $176,000 on “professional engineering services” to set up its regional headquarters for the event in Geelong last year, according to a contract with architectural firm PMDL.

The almost $900,000 spend on government office renovations comes as the Andrews government raises taxes and charges, squeezing Victorian businesses.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto said the repurposed CBD office space was another case of Victorians picking up the bill.

“This is just another example of the cost to taxpayers of Andrews’ Commonwealth Games debacle and further reinforces the need for a comprehensive and urgent Parliamentary inquiry,” he said.

“Daniel Andrews appears to want a medal for cancelling an event his government sought and then mismanaged out of viability.”

Australia event boss Craig Phillips, on Friday, pressed Mr Andrews about the blowout to the event’s budget.

Mr Phillips said the Premier had still not provided any paperwork to prove the Games new price tag would’ve hit $6-7bn, calling the figures “exaggerated”.

“We’ve not seen the numbers,” Mr Phillips said

“Obviously the lawyers are talking, we’re in the room from time to time, I can’t shed light on that. But apart from those discussions, it’s been silence.”

The comments come as the negotiations between the Andrews government and the Commonwealth Games Federation in London stall, with Victorian taxpayers expected to pay more than $1bn to cancel the Games.