No cash in federal budget for the Commonwealth Games

The Albanese government is set to allocate $500m in Tuesday’s budget for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics while the 2026 Commonwealth Games misses out completely.

Victoria is not set to receive any cash for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Tuesday’s federal budget.

A funding deal between the federal and state governments is yet to be reached, as both budgets come under pressure.

Talks about financial support for Commonwealth Games villages are ongoing, with hopes an agreement can be inked later this year.

But on Monday, assistant Treasurer Danny Pearson refused to say whether Victoria could afford to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games if the federal government failed to provide funding in Tuesday’s budget.

“I think we will just await the outcome with bated breath in relation to the budget tomorrow night,” Mr Pearson said on Monday.

“Ultimately the federal budget is a matter for the federal government.

“What I would say is that the Commonwealth has provided funding to the Olympic Games in Brisbane in 2022, so we would hope that they would come forward with some level of funding for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.”

The federal and state governments are yet to reach a funding deal on the Commonwealth Games.

But as the Victorian government chases $1.3bn in federal funding, the Albanese government has prioritised half a billion dollars over the next four years to be poured into Queensland sporting infrastructure.

Victoria is chasing cash for its athletes villages and a gymnastics and weightlifting centre, arguing it has previously received a woeful share of infrastructure spending.

Its pitch for a 50-50 split for the games, which have a massive $2.6bn price tag, comes after the federal government committed $3.4bn for the $7bn 2032 Brisbane Olympics, with about $500m of that being allocated in Tuesday’s budget.

A spokeswoman for Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said: “The commonwealth is exploring opportunities with the Victorian government on the development of Commonwealth Games villages, where this aligns with our goal to build more social and affordable housing.

“We note that the Victorian government has already announced and started tendering for games venues,” she said.

The Commonwealth Games will be held across five regional Victorian cities – Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton and Morwell.

Catherine King’s spokeswoman says the commonwealth is ‘exploring opportunities with the Victorian government’.

In late February, Premier Daniel Andrews said he was “confident that the Albanese government wouldn’t want to let down regional Victoria”.

“We wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t put the best argument to the commonwealth government as possible for our share of funding,” Mr Andrews said.

But in March, Ms King said: “The issue will be around legacy for us, particularly in terms of the athletes villages and what legacy that might leave around social and affordable housing.”

Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan had also asked the federal government to contribute to the delivery of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ second budget.

Opposition spokesman for the Commonwealth Games David Southwick says demands fr federal funding are a “desperate attempt to claw back money’. Picture: Mark Stewart

The federal government was also urged to cough up $10m in preparation funding a year for Commonwealth Games sports, with Commonwealth Games Australia chief executive Craig Phillips seeking further confirmation that support for visas, border security, intelligence and counter terrorism, customs and quarantine would be provided.

Opposition spokesman for the Commonwealth Games David Southwick said demands for federal funding were a “desperate attempt to claw back money”.

“The Andrews government needs to stop demanding everyone else pay for its promises and deliver what it has committed to,” Mr Southwick said.

“(Commonwealth Games Minister) Jacinta Allan has boasted about a fully funded Commonwealth Games, so why is she continuing to go cap in hand to the federal government?

“Jacinta Allan must urgently give councils and residents in regional communities the certainty and support they need to ensure this once in a generation opportunity is not missed.”

Federal opposition infrastructure spokeswoman, Bridget McKenzie, said: “It is becoming clear that some states are getting preferential treatment over others, with Queensland and Tasmania receiving priority funding for stadiums from the federal government, while Victoria is brushed aside”.

“Premier Dan Andrews must be held accountable for the funding promises he made in last year’s budget and Australian taxpayers should not have to bail him out of his commitments,” Senator McKenzie said.

“Victoria must receive its fair share of infrastructure funding in the budget to help people get safely to work, school and recreation and the Commonwealth Games must be properly supported.”

A Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) spokesman said it supported the Victorian government in their infrastructure negotiations with the federal government.

“CGA is focused on ensuring the urgent confirmation of preparation funding for program sports at Victoria 2026,” he said.

“The success of a home games is ultimately dependent on the success of the home team.”