‘Not a difficult decision’: Andrews scraps Commonwealth Games
Victoria abandoned plans to host the Commonwealth Games in 2026 because the 12-day event would cost up to $7 billion, rather than the $2.6 billion originally budgeted, Premier Daniel Andrews says.
State Opposition Leader John Pesutto labelled the cancellation a “massive humiliation”, while legendary Victorian sports broadcaster Bruce McAvaney said the move calls into the question the future of the event.
Mr Andrews said cancelling the Games was “not a difficult decision” and argued that decision to scrap it was a binary choice putting money into hospitals, roads and schools, or a sporting event.
Daniel Andrews has scrapped the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Gus McCubbing
The bombshell announcement comes as Victoria’s net debt is forecast to hit $171.4 billion by June 2027.
“The Games will not proceed in Victoria in 2026,” Mr Andrews said on Tuesday.
“What’s become clear is that the cost of hosting the Games is not the $2.6 billion… it is at least $6 billion, and could be as high as $7 billion.
“I will not take money out of the hospitals and schools to fund an event that is three times the cost as estimated and budgeted for last year. I’ve made a lot of difficult calls, very difficult decisions in this job – this is not one of them. Frankly, $6 to $7 billion for a 12-day sporting event… we are not doing that. That does not represent value for money, that is all cost and no benefit.”
Commonwealth Games Australia president Ben Houston labelled the move “extremely disappointing” and said the sporting body was only notified on Tuesday morning.
The Commonwealth Games Federation said it remained committed to find an alternative host to the games after blaming the cost blowouts on the state government’s desire to host the games in
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