Vic sports minister to face grilling over games axing

Former Victorian sports activities minister Martin Pakula is about to offer proof at a federal inquiry analyzing the state’s cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

While Premier Dan Andrews will not be anticipated to entrance Melbourne hearings of the federal Senate inquiry into Australia’s preparedness to host the 2026 Commonwealth and 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Mr Pakula is listed to seem on Monday afternoon.

The inquiry had been as a consequence of conclude earlier this 12 months however submissions have been reopened after the Victorian authorities’s shock resolution in July to scrap the Games over value blowouts.

Commonwealth Games chief govt officer Craig Phillips would be the first witness on the inquiry’s Melbourne hearings, adopted by Games president Ben Houston and chef de mission Petria Thomas.

Several regional councils and representatives from tourism and occasion our bodies negatively impacted when the Games have been scrapped can even present submissions.

Victoria pays Commonwealth Games our bodies $380 million in compensation after cancelling the occasion.

Victorian Auditor-General Andrew Greaves can even undertake a probe of the prices related to securing, planning for and exiting the Games.

State Opposition Leader John Pesutto stated the saga had broken Victoria’s worldwide status.

Requirements by the Commonwealth Games Federation for athletes’ villages pushed up the price of lodging alone from an estimated $200 million to greater than $1 billion.

An estimated basic operations price ticket of near $1.5 billion, up from an preliminary $1.1 billion, additionally put strain on the occasion.

Source: www.perthnow.com.au