Daniel Andrews, Jacinta Allan could snub Comm Games probe
Jaclyn Symes claims it would be unconventional for lower house MPs to be called to appear at an upper house inquiry.
Victoria’s Attorney-General has indicated Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan are likely to snub an upper house inquiry into the Commonwealth Games, saying the opposition should have established a joint inquiry if it wanted to call lower house MPs.
Jaclyn Symes’s comments come after Nationals senators Bridget McKenzie and Matt Canavan wrote to the Premier and Deputy Premier on Wednesday, asking them to appear at a federal inquiry into the Games, which is due to hold hearings in Victoria in coming weeks.
Mr Andrews made the announcement just over a fortnight ago that Victoria would abandon plans to deliver the 2026 Games across five regional centres, citing cost blowouts from $2.6bn to as much as $7bn.
On Wednesday, the Coalition and crossbench in Victoria’s upper house voted unanimously – 25 votes to Labor’s 15 – to establish an inquiry into the decision to scrap the games.
The probe will occur alongside an investigation being conducted by Victoria’s Auditor-General.
Asked on Thursday whether she expected Mr Andrews and Ms Allan, who was minister for commonwealth games delivery until the event was canned, to front the parliamentary inquiry, Ms Symes said: “No.”
“This is an upper house inquiry. The Liberal government (sic) knew that this was the rules of engagement when you have an upper house inquiry.
“If they wanted to hear from lower house members, they could have come to us and considered another forum.”
Ms Symes suggested the parliamentary accounts and estimates committee, which has a Labor chair and majority, would be a “more appropriate forum”.
Ms Allan deflected repeatedly when asked whether she would front the upper house committee.
“The committee in the Legislative Council was only established yesterday. It’s got to have its members appointed, it needs to set its own work plan, and I think it would be discourteous to cut across any consideration of that committee as to how they go about their business,” she said.
Senator Canavan said he “very much” hoped Mr Andrews, Ms Allan and former Victorian sports minister Martin Pakula would participate in the Senate inquiry, which is also expected to call Commonwealth Games Federation president Dame Louise Martin and CEO Kate Sadleir, and contractors, marketing agencies, consultancy firms and departmental heads who had involvement in planning for the Games.
“This was a state government decision, but it’s been a cause of national embarrassment, and that’s why the Senate committee … has decided to continue our inquiry, because there are national implications from what Dan Andrews has done, and the consequential damage to our national reputation from his mistakes,” Senator Canavan said.
State Opposition Leader John Pesutto said the fact the state inquiry had been established by the upper house was “not a barrier” to the Premier or Deputy Premier appearing.
“There’s no reason why they can’t come up. The only reason they’re refusing to … it’s very simple, they’re refusing because they’ve got so much to hide,” Mr Pesutto said.
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