Call for athletes to ‘boycott’ Dan Andrews and other Labor MPs in wake of Commonwealth Games cancellation

Aussie sporting stars have been urged to boycott the Victorian Premier after he shocked the world by cancelling the Commonwealth Games.

Australian sporting stars have been urged to boycott photo opportunities with Labor MPs in the wake of the Daniel Andrews’ shock call to pull the pin on the Commonwealth Games.

Federal opposition deputy leader Sussan Ley made the call to arms as she slammed the Prime Minister and Sport Minister Anika Wells for being “missing in action” throughout the controversy.

“If our athletes behaved like Daniel Andrews and Anthony Albanese, we wouldn't win any gold medals. Those two, frankly, have just given up,” she told ABC’s Insiders.

“By the way, where is Anika Wells, the sport minister? Happy to be in a photo op with the Matildas in the week. But missing in action, radio silence.

Ms Ley called for athletes to boycott Labor MPs. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Andrews cancelled the contract due to cost blowouts. Picture: Valeriu Campan NCA NewsWire.

“I don’t accept that as our prime minister, Anthony Albanese can step back and take no responsibility. I have a suggestion for all the athletes – don’t have your photo taken with any Labor MPs until this gets sorted.”

Mr Andrews sensationally ripped up the contract for the Games last week after internal figures put the cost of staging the event across five regional hubs climbed from $2bn to up to $7bn.

The Prime Minister previously expressed “regret” Australian athletes would no longer have the opportunity to compete in a home Commonwealth Games.

But he stressed it was a matter for the Premier.

“He’s made a decision based upon the changed financial arrangements and costs. The difference that were there between the projected costs and the actual costs,” he said on Thursday.

Ms Ley slammed the federal government for not stepping in and exploring “creative solutions” with the state government to keep the Games alive.

Ms Ley slammed Mr Albanese and Mr Andrews for not finding a creative solution. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

But when pressed, she conceded she wasn’t necessarily saying Mr Albanese should agree to stage the event “at any cost”.

“I‘m not saying that at all … At least look for an outcome that restores our international reputation,” she said.

“Because where it is right now, it is pretty low.”

Government lawyers are now locked in negotiations in London over the cost to break the contract.

At a winery on the Bellarine Peninsula on Friday, Mr Andrews was unable to say how much the cancelled contract would cost taxpayers, or when the full cost breakdown would be made public to Victorians.

“I’ll be able to report to you on all of these matters and more when that negotiation is finished,” he said.