‘Come clean’: Jacinta Allan under renewed pressure over her role in decision to axe 2026 Victorian Commonwealth Games

The Victorian opposition has claimed new revelations from a probe into the 2026 Commonwealth Games prove Premier Jacinta Allan knew months before the event was axed that it was facing major cost issues.

A state parliamentary inquiry currently investigating the government’s decision to withdraw from hosting the event this week received a submission from Victoria 2026 organising committee chief executive Jeroen Weimar and chair Peggy O’Neal.

The submission revealed how in February the organising committee provided the government’s Office of the Commonwealth Games with a budget submission which requested “a net public sector funding increase of $722 million”.

Ms O’Neal then wrote to Ms Allan, then the deputy premier and Commonwealth Games delivery minister, on April 4 “highlighting the critical timelines for decision making”.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto said the request for more funding “makes a mockery” of Ms Allan’s claims that it was only in the weeks before the public cancellation announcement on July 18 that a significant cost blowout had become apparent.

“This request for additional funding is proof that Jacinta Allan knew months ago the Commonwealth Games had major cost issues,” Mr Pesutto said.

“It makes a mockery of her claims she only knew in the weeks leading up to the announcement the Games would be cancelled.”

Shadow tourism, sport and events minister Sam Groth also demanded Ms Allan “come clean about exactly when she knew the Commonwealth Games were in trouble”. 

But at a press conference on Thursday, Ms Allan continued to claim it was just weeks out from the cancellation announcement that the government realised the $2.6 billion budget had blown out to between $6 to $7 billion. 

“As has been said on a number of occasions, in the weeks leading up to the announcement on the 18th of July, as estimates were turning into actuals in terms of the cost of delivering the Games, it was materialising that it was going to cost in excess of $6 billion heading towards potentially $7 billion,” she said.

“And that was just too much. Particularly when you consider that the key reason why the government agreed to host the Games in the first place was to support those legacy outcomes.”

Ms Allan again defended the government’s decision to contract a law firm in the month before she and then-premier Daniel Andrews announced the Games were off.

Arnold Bloch Leibler was engaged on June 14 specifically to provide legal advice on Victoria withdrawing from hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games. 

The arrangements – handled by the Department of Premier and Cabinet under Mr Andrews’ premiership – were put in place a day after Ms Allan told the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee how “tremendous progress ” was being made on organising the Games.

“The best decisions are always made when you seek advice of your officials, you seek advice from experts,” Ms Allan said.

Jacinta Allan and Daniel Andrews announced in July the 2026 Commonwealth Games were not going to be held in Victoria. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

“Doesn’t matter what the subject matter is… you need to make sure that you’re getting a range of different options and advice from across government. And from time to time that will need external advice as well.”

Arnold Bloch Leibler were ultimately paid $1,265,982.18 for their legal services, which were required until September 21.

Instead of the Games going ahead, Victorian taxpayers had to fork out $380 million in compensation for not proceeding with the event that was to be held across Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton and Gippsland.

The government also announced a $2 billion funding package “to ensure regional Victoria receives all the legacy benefits that would have been facilitated by hosting the Commonwealth Games”. 

Ms Allan said she was unable to provide reporters with an update on Mr Weimar’s employment status “because I know it was going to conclude around this time but I don’t have his particular details”.

His role as organising committee chief executive reportedly commanded an annual salary of up to $620,000.

SOURCE: SKYNEWS