The Allan Labor Government has belatedly announced funding to support Olympic and Paralympic athletes competing in Paris this year, almost five months after being initially approached.
Despite New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and the ACT all having contributed, Olympic team appeal officials were given a bureaucratic run-around after making an initial request for a modest $1.5 million in October 2023, and a subsequent request in December 2023.
Just hours after this situation was made public, Premier Jacinta Allan belatedly announced the funding would be provided.
With debt approaching $200 billion, Victorians will be rightly asking whether Labor was withholding funding to Australia’s Olympians to prop up their budget.
Shadow Minister Tourism, Sport and Events, Sam Groth, said: “It’s a disgrace that Labor could find $600 million to cancel the Commonwealth Games, but gave Olympic and Paralympic athletes the run-around for months over just $1.5 million.
“The Liberals and Nationals support this funding commitment, but it never should’ve been this difficult.
“Labor simply cannot manage money and Jacinta Allan and her government are destroying Victoria’s reputation as the sporting capital of the nation.”
