Former Commonwealth Games legacy minister Harriet Shing accused of lying to inquiry

Former Commonwealth Games legacy minister Harriet Shing has been accused of giving “nonsense” evidence to a parliamentary inquiry probing the cancellation of the event.

A senior minister has been accused of lying and providing “bulls--t” evidence to a parliamentary inquiry probing the Commonwealth Games fiasco.

During a fiery hearing on Thursday, former Commonwealth Games legacy minister Harriet Shing revealed that she was first told on June 22 that the event was at risk of not going ahead — more than a week after lawyers were first engaged.

The Victorian government first sought legal advice about pulling the pin on the sporting extravaganza from top law firm Arnold Bloch Leibler on June 14, more than one month before the cancellation was made public during a press conference on July 18.

Ms Shing said she was first told that the Games were at risk during a meeting with now Premier Jacinta Allan, who at the time was the minister responsible for delivering the Commonwealth Games.

“On the 22nd of June, I was advised by Ms Allan ... that cancellation of the Games was under consideration as a result of those cost pressures that had been identified,” she told the inquiry.

But Liberal MP David Davis said he didn’t believe the evidence provided by Ms Shing, calling it “nonsense” that she hadn’t been told about cost blowouts earlier than June 22.

“It’s nonsense. I don’t believe you, and I’m putting it on record that I don’t believe you,” he said.

Former Commonwealth Games legacy minister Harriet Shing says she stands by her evidence. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Ms Shing repeatedly said that she stood by her evidence provided to the committee.

Mr Davis was later forced to withdraw a comment where he referred to Ms Shing’s evidence as “bulls--t”.

Mr Davis said he didn’t believe that Ms Shing hadn’t been informed earlier given she was one of the key Ministers responsible for the event, but also because she is the partner of former premier Daniel Andrews’ chief of staff, Lissie Ratcliff.

Ms Shing hit back that she was “getting a bit sick and tired of the constant inference of impropriety in relation to me and the way in which I undertake my work”.

“My relationship has been a matter of public record for years. It has been a matter of utmost importance to me in the context of conflict management frameworks that I have not, as a matter of practice in relation to any of the portfolios that I have held, had dealings with the former premier’s former chief of staff,” she said.

“Mr Davis, if you’ve got an allegation, then put it.”

Mr Davis replied: “Well, my allegation is simply that you’re not being direct and honest with the committee”.

He added that it was hard to believe that Department of Jobs secretary Tim Ada did not inform Ms Shing that the Games were at risk earlier.

“It’s just not credible. It’s cloud cuckoo land stuff,” he said.

Former Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy Shaun Leane has fronted an inquiry into the cancelled event. Picture: David Geraghty

Former minister suffers memory lapse at inquiry

Former Commonwealth Games legacy minister Shaun Leane said he can’t remember whether he ever met with one of his portfolio’s key stakeholders.

Mr Leane served in the role for four months from June 2022 until December when he was dumped from then-premier Daniel Andrews’ cabinet.

A key responsibility of his role was to ensure that the 2026 event would deliver lasting legacy benefits to regional Victoria through housing and sporting infrastructure.

But fronting a parliamentary inquiry on Thursday, Mr Leane was unable to recall if he ever met with Homes Victoria, the agency tasked with building the state’s social housing agenda.

“My recollection is just not there,” he told the committee.

“I did have conversations with a number of groups around housing as I said, like some of the councils had views, but I apologise, my memory is not serving.”

The inquiry also heard that Mr Leane never read the business case for the 2026 event.

“I didn’t cite the business case and I didn’t think I needed to, it was already well advanced, the process was well in advance when I was appointed to this role,” he said.

Mr Leane, who is now the president of the upper house, did not sit in cabinet when the event was dumped.