Revelations that the Andrews Government scrambled to add additional sports to the botched 2026 Commonwealth Games with just weeks’ notice is further confirmation that the Games were a con job all along.
The Andrews Government’s Commonwealth Games business case has confirmed consultant firm DHW Ludus had just seven days to conduct a detailed analysis of facilities for three sports, and just two weeks to consider a fourth.
Despite this scrambled analysis, the locations and facilities considered for BMX, weightlifting, basketball and cross-country mountain biking were all ignored by the Andrews Government, which ultimately selected alternative locations for each of these events.
Shadow Minister for the Commonwealth Games, David Southwick, said: “This rushed analysis is further evidence that the Andrews Government’s 2026 Commonwealth Games was a political con job all along.
“Daniel Andrews, Jacinta Allan and all involved in this debacle must commit to fronting the Parliamentary Inquiry into the failed Games, so Victorians can understand how this all went so wrong.
“With sports being added at the last minute and assessments being conducted with just days’ notice, is it any wonder why the initial $2.6 billion Commonwealth Games costings were so wildly wrong?”
Shadow Minister for Tourism, Sport and Events, Sam Groth, said: “The Andrews Government’s Commonwealth Games debaclewas never about hosting a world leading international event, but securing regional votes ahead of the 2022 election.
“Victorians deserve straight answers and real accountability from the Andrews Government and the Minister responsible for the delivery of Commonwealth Games, Jacinta Allan, must resign.
“These Games were a con job on all Victorians who have now been humiliated on the international stage and face a bill of over $600 million for an event that will not proceed.”
