Premier Jacinta Allan must front Victoria’s Commonwealth Games Inquiry and address increasingly contradictory and inexplicable evidence about the debacle that has now cost Victorian taxpayers at least $600 million.
Today, the inquiry has heard conflicting accounts of key costings and evidence of further waste of taxpayer’s money, including:
- The assertion by the Department of Treasury and Finance that the Office of the Commonwealth Games (OGC) was responsible for identifying a $2 billion blowout in June 2023, despite evidence earlier this week that the OCG was “not aware” of these costings.
- Claims by Visit Victoria that the cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games has enhanced Victoria’s international reputation.
- Claims that a $600,000 marketing campaign to spruik the cancelled Games was a “very good investment”.
- Confirmation that a $6,500 social media audit into the fallout of the Games cancellation was not shared with government or made available to the public to date.
Shadow Minister for Tourism, Sport and Events, Sam Groth, said: “Jacinta Allan’s continued refusal to face this inquiry is becoming more untenable by the day.
“Victorians who are paying at least $600 million for this humiliating saga deserve better than blame shifting and contradictory answers.
“The evidence being put before the inquiry is raising further questions that can only be addressed by the person primarily responsible for this debacle – the former Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery and now Premier Jacinta Allan.
“This is a test of Jacinta Allan’s leadership and credibility. She must take responsibility for her role in this debacle, front the inquiry and come clean with Victorians about what really happened.”
