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Select Committee criticises Allan government for Commonwealth Games failure, highlighting financial loss and regional neglect

The Select Committee's report criticises the Allan government for incompetence in cancelling the Commonwealth Games, highlighting financial loss, poor planning, and neglect of regional Victoria's interests.

By news@gippsland - 1st April 2025 - Back to News

The Select Committee investigating the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games handed down its final report heavily criticising the Allan government for its incompetence and failures to undertake due diligence. The blame was placed on the current Premier Jacinta Allan as the architect, along with the former Premier Daniel Andrews.

Melina Bath called the Commonwealth Games cancellation one of the state's most botched projects, causing financial loss and reputational damage. The event's planning was chaotic and flawed

Commonwealth games debacle

The report said Premier Jacinta Allan refused to cooperate with the Inquiry, avoiding parliamentary scrutiny and public accountability. The Nationals' Melina Bath MP who served on the Committee said the Commonwealth Games cancellation was one of the most botched government projects in the state's history, inflicting financial loss and reputational damage.

"The Commonwealth Games was a terrible hoax. The government's business case to justify hosting this major sporting event was overwhelmingly under cooked and devoid of substance. From bid to cancellation, the Games' organisation was chaotic and flawed. There was no consultation with regional sporting organisations or local governments, highlighting Labor's arrogance."

"Jacinta Allan's central role and lack of due diligence directly led to the Games cancellation - it is unfathomable that she's now the Victorian Premier. The fiasco cost Victorians a whopping $589 million but undoubtedly the economic impact and reputational damage is far greater," said Ms Bath.

Labor's games failure

Ms Bath also said, "Regional Victoria communities bore the brunt after so much was promised but so little was delivered. There was no evidence that Labor investigated a paired back or Melbourne based games - it simply handed Scotland $200 million to take the Games off Victoria."

"The Comm Games quickly became 'Labor's Con Games'. Labor can't manage money, can't manage major projects and regional Victorians paid the price," said Ms Bath. The Committee's final report can be found at the Parliament of Victoria website.

Pictures from Melina Bath MP Instagram page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com