Commonwealth Games 2026: Allan rejects call to front Comm Games probe with Dan

Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan has dismissed a push to front a federal probe into the Commonwealth Games alongside Daniel Andrews as a “political stunt”.

Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan has rejected calls to front up to a federal probe into the Commonwealth Games with Premier Daniel Andrews, calling it a “political stunt”.

“The Premier has addressed this already and we feel, and the Victorian Auditor-General has indicated, that they are planning to look at this matter and — given the powers and the access to cabinet documents and the resources of the Victorian Auditor-General — they’re best placed to do this work,” she said on Tuesday.

“This Senate inquiry is all a political stunt led by a senator, led by Senator Bridget McKenzie, who is well known across regional Australia across the sporting community.”

Ms Allan denied the Premier was trying to block former sports minister Martin Pakula from giving honest answers at the inquiry.

Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan has rejected calls to front a Comm Games probe alongside Premier Daniel Andrews. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Mr Pakula revealed he was sent a letter from Mr Andrews on Friday reminding him that “the following classes out of which you may be asked to give evidence is protected from disclosure by public interest immunity or inter-governmental immunity, and the Senate committee has no power to compel the disclosure of information in these classes.”

Ms Allan said “there are appropriate processes that must be followed”.

“And this, as I’ve said already Senator McKenzie, is all — as we saw demonstrated pretty clearly yesterday and on previous occasions — is all about the politics,” she said.

Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan told the committee his concerns around the delivery of the Games were ignored by the government.

Senator Bridget McKenzie called on Ms Allan to apologise for her role in the cancellation of the Games. Picture: Aaron Francis

But Ms Allan claimed there had been “extensive engagement” with the council.

“Well, I think the mayor should perhaps talk to his council officials,” she said.

“There had been extensive engagement with all about five councils that we were talking to, working with, in terms of the operations of the Commonwealth Games.”

“The mayor is directly contradicted by his own statements that he made earlier in the year about the position of the Geelong City Council and what they may or may not contribute.”

Senator McKenzie called on Ms Allan to apologise for her role in the cancellation of the Games.

But the Deputy Premier declined to offer an apology.

Ms Allan was asked how much the government had paid Big Four firm Ernst & Young to deliver the original figures for the Games.

“That information is commercial in confidence. So I don’t have that,” she said.

“That’s, again, a standard, pretty standard approach.”

Dan accused of ‘muzzling’

Daniel Andrews on Monday was accused of “muzzling” ministers, lawyers and consultants from properly co-operating with the federal inquiry probing the cancellation of the Games.

After successive witnesses were unable to answer key questions about the axing of the event, Senator McKenzie again called on the Premier to appear to explain the government’s claimed cost blowout of $7bn, up from $2.6bn, to stage the event.

“If it isn’t a figure just plucked out of the air, then why wouldn’t the Premier take the opportunity to turn up to the Senate inquiry and explain the methodology,” Senator McKenzie told the Herald Sun.

Martin Pakula fronts a federal inquiry into the failed Commonwealth Games. Picture: Aaron Francis

“The level of secrecy surrounding the cancellation decision is unprecedented,” she said.

“The Victorian Premier has sought to muzzle not only his ministers and the organising committee, but also sports lawyers and consultants.”

Mr Andrews wrote to the inquiry this month to “respectfully decline” any invitations for him or his ministers to give evidence.

As Commonwealth Games Australia and Geelong Council told the Senate inquiry they were blindsided by the event’s axing, other witnesses were unable to offer detailed answers about the non-event.

CGA officials denied requesting a confidentiality clause as part of the $380m settlement to cancel the Games.

And they said while the board had been alerted to budget pressures as early as April, there was no indication the event would be cancelled.

Former sports and major events minister Martin Pakula testified in a private capacity.

He repeatedly told the committee he was “not privy” to details, couldn’t reveal “confidential deliberations of cabinet” and warned Senators not to “verbal” him as he dodged key questions about cost blowouts.

“I don’t have, and have never had before me, the material that the government has used to arrive at that number but if that is what the material suggests is the case then I have no reason to disbelieve it,” he said.

The former minister said when he finished up as an MP in June 2022 there was no indication that the figures had shifted.

Mr Pakula was pressed by Senator McKenzie on the Premier’s claim he was “begged” to take on the 2026 Games.

“I don’t think I can or will enlighten you on that,” he quipped.

“I would hope that we can proceed without you verballing me, Senator.”

Senior partners from Ernst & Young, who prepared the business case, were castigated after they were accused of breaching Senate rules over their refusal to answer questions citing client confidentiality.

The consultants were also criticised for their “appalling disrespect to this committee, (and) Australian taxpayers”.

“(You’re) saying you’re not prepared to be public about what you were paid to actually develop a business case that has seen Victorian taxpayers fork out hundreds of millions of dollars for non-existing Commonwealth Games,” Senator McKenzie said.