Commonwealth Games axing a blight on Victoria’s global reputation, says Senate inquiry
Victoria’s international reputation has been ‘called into question’ by the Andrews government’s axing of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, a Senate inquiry into the decision has found.
Victoria’s international reputation has been “called into question” by the Andrews government’s axing of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, a Senate inquiry into the decision has found.
Tabled in federal parliament on Thursday, the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee’s interim report on Australia’s preparedness to host Commonwealth, Olympic and Paralympic Games made seven recommendations, including that the federal government take a lead role in salvaging the Games and holding them in Australia.
Premier Daniel Andrews in July cancelled plans for the 2026 Commonwealth Games to be hosted across five regional Victorian towns, citing cost blowouts he claimed had seen the project go from $2.6bn to as much as $7bn.
Last month, Victoria agreed to pay $380m in compensation for scrapping the Games.
The Premier and his deputy, Jacinta Allan – who was Minister for Commonwealth Games delivery until the event was axed – refused an invitation to front the Senate inquiry, chaired by Nationals MP Matt Canavan and of which Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie a leading participant.
In its almost 100-page report, the committee slammed the Victorian government for hindering its ability to get to the bottom of the debacle, finding it not only refused to engage with the inquiry, “but, in the committee’s view, actively worked to hinder the engagement of other witnesses by expressing its broad position on protected evidence about a wide range of witnesses”.
The committee said it had been unable to produce a definitive timeline of events leading up to the cancellation of the Games.
“Only the Victorian government, as the key party to every stage of the process, can provide an authoritative set of dates and causes for each event and issue, if such records exist. Its refusal to co-operate with the committee means that this inquiry has so far been unable to do so,” it found.
The committee noted concurrent investigations being conducted by a Victorian Legislative Council committee and the state’s Auditor-General, saying it was “imperative” a “final and definitive account of the facts and figures of this cancellation be reached”. “Victoria’s international reputation has been called into question by this decision,” the committee found.
“This emerging situation should be rectified, and it is the responsibility of the Victorian government to rectify it by providing confidence and assurances to major sports and event companies.”
The Victorian Premier said he was “not certain” he would read the report, describing it as a “political stunt”.
“I’m not taking integrity lectures, probity lectures or behavioural lectures from Bridget McKenzie. I’m just not. Like, not a chance,” Mr Andrews said.
The committee’s recommendations include that the federal government “takes on a facilitation and co-ordination role in order to salvage the 2026 Commonwealth Games being held in Australia”.
More Coverage
US ‘on track’ to sell Virginia-class subs to Australia
US Congressman and leading AUKUS supporter Joe Courtney, has played down the prospect of the US backtracking from its commitment to sell Australia nuclear-powered submarines.
Welcome to country has become ‘a throwaway line’: Price
Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has told the nation's first Alliance for Responsible Citizenship conference in Sydney that the voice referendum result 'reignited Australia's spirit' while ubiquity has robbed welcome to country ceremonies of meaning.