A shocking new report from the Select Committee probing the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games exposes these failures. The TCI have pinpointed key government figures as being most accountable for these failures. David Limbrick, who chaired the Committee that found a litany of errors in the contracting and approval processes. These mistakes, in the end, resulted in the more expensive decision to withdraw from hosting the Games, a decision that cost the state $589 million.
The 2021 Conditions and Performance Report uncovers 62 major takeaways. It goes on to make six recommendations to improve transparency and accountability in future government spending decisions. Perhaps most significant is the recommendation to publish all Cabinet decision-making papers within 30 days of a final decision being made. This small measure would go a long way to increase public oversight and establish trust in government decision-making.
Key Findings of the Report
We know now thanks to the truth uncovered during the Select Committee’s investigation. The decision to withdraw from hosting the Commonwealth Games was a result of multiple key failures in the original bidding and approval process. A crucial misstep found: that Treasury and Finance had sanctioned the blueprint. This decision was taken despite a great deal of concern that costs would exceed anticipated benefits from the event.
Winning the rights to host the Commonwealth Games will be their passport to those lucrative new markets. Importantly, it will drive significant tourism benefits for regional Victoria’s visitor economy. The federal government’s original multi-city plan was poorly planned and consulted, the report found.
Madam Chair, the Committee did well to hold former Premier Daniel Andrews accountable for this disastrous decision. They further identified Commonwealth Games Minister Jacinta Allan, Sports Minister Martin Pakula and Treasurer Tim Pallas as jointly responsible. The report underscored that these senior officials did not effectively manage the process of securing the Commonwealth Games or conduct proper due diligence.
“A hasty political decision was made by the then Andrews Labor government to support the Commonwealth Games in the proposed multi-city model, but the government did not undertake proper due diligence.” – The report
Recommendations for Future Governance
Recognizing those findings, the Select Committee’s final report urged six major recommendations to increase governmental accountability. Of these, the recommendation to publish Cabinet decision papers within 30 days is a key measure to promote increased transparency.
The Committee’s suggestion is to pursue a higher standard of analysis on the front end for future projects. They further call for public consultation before any major financial commitments are made. We believe these changes will stop similar incidents from occurring in the future. Our project seeks to win back the public’s trust in the government’s ability to make positive decisions.
David Limbrick, the chair of the Select Committee expressed similar worries. So he’s understandably concerned about the commitments made at the time that regional Victoria was chosen to host the 2026 Games.
“When the Victorian government announced that regional Victoria would host the 2026 Games, we were promised long-lasting benefits across the state,” – David Limbrick
Political Reactions and Implications
That decision to cancel the Commonwealth Games met cutting rebuke across the political spectrum. Member of Parliament Brad Battin on the tragic scene. He feels that Labor’s mismanagement of the state has left Victorians financially worse off without any justifiable outcomes.
“Labor’s obsession with headline-grabbing announcements instead of competent delivery has left Victorians footing the bill, with nothing to show for it except damage to our reputation and another black hole in the budget,” – Brad Battin
Former athletes and community leaders have voiced their concerns regarding the impact of this failure on regional Victoria and its reputation. Sam Groth reflected on the broader implications of this event cancellation, stating:
“This failure has set back regional Victoria, it’s embarrassed our state on the international stage, and it’s shattered the confidence of the events industry,” – Sam Groth
