Gold Coast Commonwealth Games bid could partner with Perth

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has confirmed his support for a joint-bid with Perth to salvage the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has confirmed his support for a joint-bid with Perth to salvage the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Speaking on Friday, Councillor Tate said a joint-venture spanning across the country could save the Games, following the stunning decision by the Victorian government to walk away from their hosting obligations.

The Courier-Mail earlier revealed Perth Mayor Basil Zempilas had been in talks with the Gold Coast about sharing events during the Games and Councillor Tate said it was a promising option.

“How much we do and how much Perth do is really immaterial,” he said.

“We’ve got to send a message to the world (that) we never take a backwards step.

“It’s on our crest (emus and kangaroos) and Dan Andrews should have a look at our crest every now and again.”

Councillor Tate said talks with WA could determine what sports would be staged in which state, adding that the King’s Baton Relay could go from coast to coast.

“We can ask “what’s your strong points?” and “what’s our strong points?”

“The King’s Baton Relay could go from Perth back to here (and) we will get a charter jet paid for by Victoria.”

He said the cross-country model could serve as a beacon for future bids where smaller nations could share hosting rights.

“That might carry through to smaller nations in the Caribbean or island nations can come together and say “well we had no chance of hosting the Games before but if Perth and Gold Coast can do it together”, well that means other nations can do it as well,” he said.

Despite an indifferent response from the state and federal governments, support for the Games by Australia’s richest person, mining magnate Gina Rinehart, this week has reignited flickering hopes the Games could still go ahead.

While Ms Rinehart has endorsed the Games going ahead, she has stopped short of offering to bankroll the event, which Mr Tate believes could be staged for about $1bn.

He has argued for federal funds that would have gone to Victoria to be diverted elsewhere to ensure the Games go ahead, but clouding the issue is the fact no federal funding had been locked in.

Perth Mayor Basil Zempilas

On Thursday, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was asked again about the likelihood of bringing the Commonwealth Games back to the Gold Coast, which staged a widely lauded event in 2018, but she maintained that the state’s focus was on the 2032 Olympics. “We do not have the lead-in time nor the budget to deliver the Commonwealth Games,” she said.

Cr Tate said he had not given up hope.

“It’s fantastic to see the ­generosity Gina Reinhardt has displayed through her sponsorship of sport in Australia now extend to the commonwealth arena,” Cr Tate said.

“Apart from the goodwill we have lost as a nation, I’m advised the Victorian taxpayer is facing a contract-breach legal bill of around $900m.

“That will leave a sour taste in the mouth of every Victorian taxpayer.”

Originally published as Gold Coast Commonwealth Games bid could partner with Perth