Andrews government to face inquiry into scrapping Commonwealth Games
The Andrews government will face more heat over its shock decision to cancel the Commonwealth Games after the Victorian Liberals won support from the crossbench to hold a parliamentary inquiry into the debacle.
Premier Daniel Andrews last month announced Victoria would abandon the Games, set to be held in regional hubs including Shepparton, Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong in 2026, after saying costs had blown out from $2.6 billion to more than $6 billion.
Premier Daniel Andrews has refused to apologise for cancelling the Commonwealth Games. Drew Ryan
The Liberals had been sweating on support from the Greens to pass their motion to hold a parliamentary inquiry, but ultimately won support from the entire crossbench, including the Animal Justice Party, Legalise Cannabis Party, One Nation and ex-Liberal Moira Deeming.
“Labor humiliated Victoria on the Games cancellation and Labor have been humiliated today on this vote,” deputy Liberal leader David Southwick said after the motion passed by 25 votes to 15.
Liberal MP Joe McCracken told parliament ahead of the vote that the inquiry would give Victorians “the answers they deserve”.
“My home town of Ballarat has suffered because people have made significant preparations ready for the Commonwealth Games that are now nowhere,” Mr McCracken said.
“I’m interested to hear from people about what the actual real impact has been for them in their businesses and their families and, more broadly, for our communities, including our athletes as well.
“But the most important part of this motion is about integrity – the integrity of the parliament, the integrity of this government to make a promise and then break it months later.”
Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam said the select
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