New documents show Premier Jacinta Allan was aware the Commonwealth Games were in trouble months before they were cancelled.
It’s been revealed the Victoria 2026 Organising Committee sought an additional $722 million in funding from the Labor Government in February, five months before the event was cancelled.
It also wrote to the then Minister for the Commonwealth Games Delivery in April outlining the critical time frames required for the additional funding.
Despite this, Ms Allan continued to publicly boast about the Games and the Government’s ability to deliver the event in regional Victoria.
Opposition Leader John Pesutto said: “This request for additional funding is proof that Jacinta Allan knew months ago the Commonwealth Games had major cost issues.
“It makes a mockery of her claims she only knew in the weeks leading up to the announcement the Games would be cancelled.”
It also follows revelations the Labor Government engaged lawyers in June to prepare to withdraw from the Games, over a month before it publicly announced the cancellation on July 18.
Shadow Minister for Tourism, Sport and Events Sam Groth said: “The Premier needs to come clean about exactly when she knew the Commonwealth Games were in trouble and why she misled Victorians.”
