Embarrassing Games cancellation the end for Dan?

Will the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games in Victoria be the shaky domino that cements the beginning of the Andrews government’s collapse? I’m sorry to sound cynical but I feel compelled to ask this question because all the spin in the world can’t diminish the loss of public faith and confidence in a Victoria led by Dan Andrews.

The fallout resulting from this decision will be unlike surfing the wave but more like drowning in lost hope. It seems wrong to pitch the need for housing to justify the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games. Athlete housing was planned to provide future affordable regional housing relief anyway. Isn’t this why we have state budgets? If Victoria did not have the revenue, why did the state bid for the Games?

Clearly this appears to be a classic example of politicians and bureaucrats putting the cart before the horse. Or is it suggestive of a strategy to win votes with farfetched election sweeteners? More questions are bound to surface in view of the liabilities and wasted taxpayer dollars spent in the lead-up campaign and bid to host these Games.

Who will account or take responsibility for this?

Geraldine Gonsalvez, Dandenong, Vic

When the Commonwealth Games first came to the world stage in 1930 they were simple and affordable. Over the years, however, they have become an exercise in one-upmanship. Each year the event had to be bigger and better than the last. Suddenly, but not accidentally, Victoria has overreached and had to embarrassingly withdraw as host because of a projected incompetent cost overrun. As a nation we benefit from the Games, which help prepare us for the “big event”: the Olympics.

We mustn’t let them be cancelled on the whim of a reckless Premier. What we need here is for the federal government to step up, take charge and hold the Games on a reasonable, publicly acceptable and manageable budget. Let’s not try and outdo previous Games; let’s work with what we have.

As for Daniel Andrews, well, the people of Victoria must handle him because they elected him.

John George, Terrigal, NSW

The decision by the Victorian government to withdraw from hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2026 for financial reasons is disappointing but totally understandable. Then again, the Commonwealth has a waning membership and there are plenty of other outlets for sports people to prove their mettle. No doubt the loudest protests will come from those sports that have limited international appeal and at which Australia proudly excels.

Neil Archibald, Subiaco, WA

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews should resign over his appalling decision to bail out of the Commonwealth Games. Andrews has embarrassed Australia and should not be allowed to get away with it. The tragedy is the Liberals under John Pesutto are a basket case unable to put pressure on the mediocre Labor leader.

Michael Fishpool, Carindale, Qld

The sad sight of Commonwealth Games chief executive Craig Phillips in tears over its cancellation in Victoria is a damning indictment of the Andrews government. Trumpeting the promise of the Games as a winner before the last state election, Daniel Andrews sold the dummy to the Victorian people. In 1955 our state and federal governments were in a panic under similar pressure to host the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne. Against all the odds, our governments came through with the full support of the people of Melbourne, who rallied to the call and the 1956 “Friendly Games” became an amazing success. Andrews’s abject failure to follow in the footsteps of the blueprint laid down by the people of Melbourne for the 1956 Games surely must sound the death knell now for an incompetent government that has lost the confidence and support of our sports-mad Aussie public.

John Bell, Heidelberg Heights, Vic

The Andrews government’s cancellation of the Commonwealth Games due to a budget cost blowout of $7bn against budget of $2bn continues the record of blowouts in other major projects including the Level Crossing Removal Project and the West Gate Tunnel. But this is dwarfed by the state’s total debt of $167bn. Will the Andrews government now also cancel this white elephant?

Wayne Alexander, Eltham, Vic