COMMONWEALTH GAMES (23rd : 2026 : VICTORIA

50 Commonwealth Games bureaucrats still being paid

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Original article by Shannon Deery, Alex White
Herald Sun – Page: Online : 22-Nov-23

The Victorian government is continuing to attract scrutiny over its controversial decision in July to withdraw from hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games. It has been revealed that the government has yet to finalise exit packages for about 50 staff who were employed to organise the Games; sources say they will continue to be paid until 29 January, which is the deadline for them to ­decide whether to accept an exit package. The Games staff say they have been placed on ‘gardening leave’. The manager of opposition business James Newbury says Premier Jacinta Allan holds the gold medal for wasting taxpayers’ money. Allan was the minister responsible for the Commonwealth Games.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

Commonwealth Games fiasco biggest debacle in nation’s events history

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Original article by Mitch Clarke, Jade Gailberger
Herald Sun – Page: Online : 24-Oct-23

Events industry veteran Simon Thewlis has criticised the Victorian government’s handling of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which it cancelled in July due to a cost blowout. Thewlis says the government owes the events industry an apology, arguing that the decision to withdraw from hosing the Games was the "final insult" for a sector that had already been hard hit by the pandemic. Meanwhile, Volleyball Australia CEO Andrew Dee has told a parliamentary inquiry into the Games’ cancellation that Victoria has suffered significant reputational damage, and organisers of major events will shun the state for some time.

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VOLLEYBALL AUSTRALIA

Victoria’s Commonwealth Games legal bill balloons to $1.3m

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Original article by Gus McCubbing
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 4-Oct-23

Victoria’s upper house is to conduct an inquiry into the cancelled 2026 Commonwealth Games, with the inquiry to start later in October. Filling out a questionnaire in response to the inquiry, the Department of Premier and Cabinet has stated that law firm Arnold Bloch Leibler was paid $1,265,982 for legal services regarding the state’s withdrawal from the Games. Arnold Bloch Leibler’s work was said to have begun in June, meaning it was engaged around three weeks before then Premier Daniel Andrews announced his government was cancelling the games; it ended up having to pay $380 million in compensation to Commonwealth Games bodies

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ARNOLD BLOCH LEIBLER

LAWYERS,[SPACE]VICTORIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT]

No cost-benefit analysis done for $2b in legacy Games projects

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Original article by Rachel Eddie
The Age – Page: Online : 26-Jul-23

The Victorian government is under scrutiny over its plans to proceed with $2bn worth of Commonwealth Games-related infrastructure in regional areas. Premier Daniel Andrews has admitted that the government has not done a cost-benefit analysis of the expenditure on new social and affordable housing and upgraded sports facilities in regions that were to have hosted Games events. He contends that such an analysis is not necessary, as it is "common sense" that an increase in affordable housing is needed in regional Victoria. National Party senator Bridget McKenzie says she is shocked but not surprised that the state government has not undertaken a cost-benefit analysis, adding that the $2bn investment will not be sufficient to address problems in regional Victoria.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Andrews blindside puts Commonwealth Games broadcast deal on ice

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Original article by Calum Jaspan
The Age – Page: Online : 19-Jul-23

The Seven Network was the official broadcaster of the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and 2022, and it has first-refusal rights to the next two Games. Sources have indicated that Seven had been close to finalising a new broadcasting rights deal, but the negotiations have been put on hold due to uncertainty about the 2026 Games following the Victorian government’s decision to terminate its contract. The source has indicated that the 2026 Games will have significantly less appeal for Seven if they are held in a different timezone.

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SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM