Daniel Andrews cancels Victoria’s 2026 Commonwealth Video games: The reason why Shepparton, Gippsland, Ballarat, Geelong, Bendigo occasion can be scrapped

The Commonwealth Video games resulting from be held in regional Victoria in 2026 have been cancelled by Premier Daniel Andrews.

The rationale behind the shock transfer is right down to funds – Victoria’s state debt is forecast to be $135.4billion in 2024, rising to $171.4billion by 2026-27. 

The rights to host the 2026 occasion had been awarded to regional Victoria final 12 months after Birmingham, England changed South Africa’s Durban as host of the 2022 video games. 

‘What’s turn into clear is the price of internet hosting these video games just isn’t the $2.6billion which was allotted, it’s at the very least $6billion or $7billion,’ Mr Andrews stated. 

‘I can’t take cash out of hospitals and faculties so as to fund an occasion that’s thrice the price as estimated and budgeted for final 12 months.’ 

The Commonwealth Video games resulting from be held in regional Victoria in 2026 have been cancelled by Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured)

The Video games had been set to be held from March 17 to 29 in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Gippsland and Shepparton.

The Premier stated ‘I’ve made a number of troublesome selections on this job – this isn’t one in every of them,’ and described the Commonwealth Video games as ‘all price, no profit’.

‘We’re not going to spend $6 to $7billion internet hosting a 12-day sporting occasion.’ 

Mr Andrews added that ‘you’ve got to select. 

‘Do you push on and ship this at any price, taking cash out of hospitals, faculties, roads, all method of various issues to pay for it or do you make the choice we have introduced in the present day.’ 

Promotional materials stated: ‘Victoria 2026 will showcase what makes the folks of our state tick: our unity, our range, our sense of group, our welcoming angle and our love of sport.’

As a substitute, it won’t be occurring.

The Commonwealth Video games has by no means been cancelled with the strict exception of throughout World Conflict II. 

Staff Australia pose with their medals after the lads’s last hockey match on the Commonwealth Video games in Birmingham, England, Monday, August 8, 2022

The Video games had been set to be held from March 17 to 29 in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Gippsland and Shepparton

Commonwealth Video games employees had been reportedly known as in for an pressing assembly early on Tuesday.

There was an emergency assembly of the federal government’s Expenditure Assessment Committee – senior ministers who focus on price range selections – on Monday.

The total proposal was taken to the Cupboard late final evening.

Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas had been in search of a dollar-for-dollar matching contribution from the federal authorities. 

Extra to come back …