This Month
No site visits, no briefings: Games’ business case done in just weeks
EY partner Dean Yates says the original business case the firm prepared for the cancelled 2026 Commonwealth Games identified significant problems.
- Gus McCubbing
November
Eleven Games committee officials were paid $300k a year
The top public servant charged with overseeing the cancelled Commonwealth Games was paid more than $500,000 last financial year, a report has revealed.
- Updated
- Gus McCubbing
October
Games minister never read the business case
One of two ministers responsible for Victoria’s Commonwealth Games says she was kept in the dark about plans to axe the event, and did not mislead parliament.
- Updated
- Gus McCubbing
‘Couldn’t organise a conference for 500’: event expert on Games chaos
Victoria’s Commonwealth Games saga was the ‘biggest debacle in the history of events in Australia’, an inquiry has been told.
- Gus McCubbing
Vic Games costs were based on ‘Gold Coast in 2018, plus inflation’
Visit Victoria boss Brendan McClements has claimed that cancelling the Commonwealth Games actually boosted interest in the state.
- Updated
- Gus McCubbing
Allan denies misleading parliament on Games blowout
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has stood by the evidence she gave to a parliamentary hearing about the Commonwealth Games despite knowing of budget pressures.
- Updated
- Gus McCubbing
Allan knew of Games blowout but spruiked ‘tremendous progress’
The main reason the Commonwealth Games costs blew out to more than double was the government insisting events be held outside Melbourne, officials tell inquiry.
- Gus McCubbing
‘Torched’: Andrews’ cancelled Games bill jumps by $40m
The Victorian government spent $21 million in consultant fees as it prepared to fit out athlete villages for the axed Commonwealth Games, despite a budget of $1 million.
- Gus McCubbing
Victoria’s Commonwealth Games legal bill balloons to $1.3m
The Victorian government blew $1.3 million on lawyers sent to negotiate the fallout of its shock decision to cancel the Commonwealth Games.
- Gus McCubbing
September
Jacinta Allan: the rise of Victoria’s woman most likely
For political insiders, Jacinta Allan’s elevation as premier is the culmination of one of the most assiduous and well-planned ascensions in Victorian politics.
- Samantha Hutchinson
- Opinion
- Political leadership
Andrews leaves a profound but divisive legacy
When Eddie McGuire revealed that Daniel Andrews was resigning at the AFL grand final lunch, 10 minutes before the news was announced, the who’s who of the city’s business and sports community erupted into cheers.
- Updated
- Patrick Durkin
‘Extraordinary life’: Sporting icon Ron Barassi dies
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led tributes to Ron Barassi, saying there was no more famous name in football.
- Updated
- Anna Harrington and Roger Vaughan
- Opinion
- Energy transition
There are lower-risk ways to keep the energy transition moving
The switch from carbon can’t be put off, but Australia’s construction industry is not ready for it. There is a surprising ray of hope from Dan Andrews’ Victoria.
- Cameron O'Reilly
August
Gold Coast mayor calls Andrews’ Games drop ‘un-Australian’
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate says his city could host the Games in 2026 for $1 billion with “no capital expenditure required”.
- Gus McCubbing
- Analysis
- Daniel Andrews
PwC scandal casts secrecy shadow over Commonwealth Games inquiry
Witnesses before an inquiry into Victoria cancelling the Commonwealth Games were quick to explain why they had to remain silent.
- Patrick Durkin
EY stands by Games advice, refuses to say how much it was paid
EY consultants have told a federal inquiry they stand by the work that put the cost of the 2026 Commonwealth Games at $2.6 billion, before the Andrews government cancelled the event citing a cost blowout up to $7 billion.
- Updated
- Gus McCubbing
Byelection victory a ‘referendum’ on Andrews government: Liberals
The Liberals have claimed that a resounding byelection win shows Victorians are sick of Daniel Andrews, despite Labor not running a candidate.
- Gus McCubbing
Byelection test for Victorian Liberals after Games debacle
Nicole Werner, Liberal candidate in the Warrandyte byelection, says her connections to an evangelical megachurch won’t cause her problems at the voting booth/
- Gus McCubbing
Victoria blames Games fiasco on Russia-Ukraine war
The state has declined to front a federal inquiry probing the Commonwealth Games as it blames the cancellation on ‘global’ causes such as rising rates and war.
- Gus McCubbing
- Exclusive
- Victorian budget
Inside Andrews’ $380m compo deal for the Games
Commonwealth Games officials initially sought a “multibillion-dollar” payout from the Victorian government and the deal came close to collapsing.
- Patrick Durkin
