Victorian taxpayers slugged $11m for staff of axed Commonwealth Games

Victorian taxpayers forked out a whopping $11m to pay the staff who failed to deliver the 2026 Commonwealth Games, including $500k for one senior bureaucrat.

Victorian taxpayers were slugged more than $11m to pay the staff that failed to deliver the 2026 Commonwealth Games, including $500,000 to line the pockets of one senior bureaucrat.

The whopping salary spend was revealed in the Victoria 2026 organising committee’s annual report, which also highlighted that 10 other executives were paid upwards of $300,000.

In total, 32 executives enjoyed hefty pay packets upwards of $180,000.

As of June 30, the organisation had wasted more than $21m on costs associated with preparing the event.

The 13-member board, chaired by former Richmond Football Club president Peggy O’Neal, were paid a total of more than $700,000. Picture: Getty Images

Nearly $11m of that was to pay employees, while more than $10m went towards “other operating expenses”, according to figures compiled by the Auditor-General for the report.

The 13-member board, chaired by former Richmond Football Club president Peggy O’Neal, were paid a total of more than $700,000.

One member of that board took home up to $359,999, while the other twelve received payments less than $100,000. Five of the members received between $40,000 and $50,000.

The Victorian government spectacularly cancelled the 12-day sporting extravaganza on July 18, claiming the event had blown out from $2.6bn to nearly $7bn.

A parliamentary inquiry is now probing the fiasco.

Opposition sport, tourism and major events spokesman Sam Groth says the money should have been better spent. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Taxpayers will be charged a compensation fee of $380m to pull out of the Games, on top of at least another $200m already invested in the event.

Opposition sport, tourism and major events spokesman Sam Groth said the money should have been better spent.

“Not only did Jacinta Allan lie to Victorians about the Commonwealth Games, she squandered more than $600m of taxpayers money,” he said.

“Money that could have been spent on hospitals, schools, roads and other vital services at a time when Victorians are doing it tougher than ever.”