A local MP has blasted Premier Jacinta Allan after a report found the abandoned Commonwealth Games cost the state nearly $600 million.
Released yesterday, the report from the Victorian Auditor-General’s office found the total cost of the games loss was over $589 million.
It also found an expected cost of $6.9 billion to host the Games in regions like Ballarat was overstated.
Member for Western Victoria Joe McCracken says Premier Allan, as then-Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery, is responsible.
“She’s failed to appear in front of the Commonwealth Games select committee and the inquiry into the cancellation. She needs to do that and then maybe after that she should consider handing her resignation paper in,” he said.
“She’s presided over a period of extreme waste, extreme mismanagement and a series of fumbling government departments and agencies that won’t talk to each other, and haven’t, and produced over half-a-billion dollars’ worth of waste which is a complete disgrace.”
In lieu of the games, a $2 billion regional spending package was announced to be rolled out in its place, which included upgrades to Mars Stadium, construction of a new Ballarat athletics facility and a $1 billion regional housing fund.
Mr. McCracken said it won’t surprise many in a number of months’ time if the spending package was cancelled.
“They promised the Commonwealth Games, they went to an election, got a mandate to deliver it, and then it’s cancelled,” he said.
“Why should we have any faith that they’ll deliver anything under the Games realignment package as well?”
Premier Allan has been contacted for comment.
