In a war of words, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has described Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ decision to axe the 2026 Commonwealth Games as “un-Australian,” while the premier has said that the matter is “settled” and is ready to move on.
This follows a push by Mr. Tate for the Gold Coast to host the games after the premier cited a cost blowout of $7 billion (US$4.5 billion), up from $2.6 billion, as his reason for cancelling the event.
On Aug. 29, Mr. Tate said the saga has impacted the country’s reputation.
“Reneging is un-Australian. That’s a blight on the country’s reputation,” the Gold Coast mayor said.
“Nobody will remember who Daniel Andrews is, and they won’t remember the Victorian government. It will be that the Aussies were the ones who reneged on the 2026 Commonwealth Games.”
Additionally, Mr. Tate said he feared China would invite Pacific nations no longer able to compete at an Australia-hosted 2026 Commonwealth Games to the Asian Games in Hangzhou held late in September.
“China wants a strong presence in Oceania—they will seize this opportunity to expand the Asian Games,” he claimed.
Speaking to reporters on Aug. 31, Mr. Andrews said his government was moving on from the whole saga.
“We have closed this matter, it’s not a matter about what I’m happy or unhappy about. It’s a matter for them,” Mr. Andrews said.
Premier ‘Not Embarrassed’ if Gold Coast Hosts the Games
When asked whether or not it would be embarrassing if the Gold Coast held the Commonwealth Games, Mr. Andrews said his political opponents were the ones who should be embarrassed.“There’s plenty of people that have embarrassed themselves this week,” he said.
“I think (Nationals Senator) Bridget McKenzie has embarrassed herself, like sports rorts McKenzie lecturing people about anything, seriously.”
On Aug. 30, at a Commonwealth Games Senate inquiry, Ms. McKenzie accused Mr. Andrews of throwing an “invisible cloak” over his employees after he told the inquiry that no Victorian government ministers or employees would be attending.
“We are about building houses, we are about getting on and getting things done, we are about making choices that are not just popular but are the right thing to do,” Mr. Andrews said.
“And we are opposed in most of that by the Liberal and National Parties.
Gina Rinehart’s Support of Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Shrugged Off By Andrews
In August, mining magnate and billionaire businesswoman Gina Rinehart backed the Gold Coast’s bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Mr. Tate said Ms. Rinehart “sent a clear message.”
While it is understood that she won’t be funding the games, her company, Hancock Prospecting, and her foundations will support them in other ways.
“Direct athlete support remains the focus of Hancock’s sports funding program,” a spokesperson for Ms. Rinehart previously told The Epoch Times.
“A global event like the Commonwealth Games benefits many local businesses and improves (subject to securing Government funding support that was heading to Victoria for the Games) the venues for wider benefit for years to come.”
“Having seen the joy that athletes and their families experienced when competing in front of a home crowd for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Mrs. Rinehart would certainly welcome the 2026 event to again be held in Australia, especially at the Gold Coast, where it was run so successfully before.”
When asked about the billionaire’s endorsement of the Gold Coast bid, Mr. Andrews said it was “entirely a matter for her.”
“We made it very clear that $6 billion-plus for a 12-day sporting event was far too much money, and therefore we’re not proceeding,” Mr. Andrews said.
“We can deliver all the legacy and more for far less, far, far less than what these games would have cost us, and we have been able to dodge a $4 billion extra price tag, an extra bill, which is frankly money that if we’ve got it, it can be invested elsewhere.”
On Aug. 18, Victoria agreed to pay the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), Commonwealth Games Federation Partnerships (CGFP), and Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) $380 million in compensation for cancelling the event.
Meanwhile, Mr. Tate maintains that the Gold Coast could host the event for a cost between $750 million and $1 billion.
However, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has ruled out accommodating the event, saying that her state is “100 percent focused” on preparing for the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.
At the same time, Commonwealth Games Australia called for the federal government to intervene and secure an Australia-based host for the 2026 event.
“Prior to the cancellation of Victoria 2026, Australia had an enviable international reputation of being able to host great Games,” Commonwealth Games Australia chief executive Craig Phillips said at the Commonwealth Games Senate inquiry.
“The delivery of an Australian-based solution would restore Australia’s reputation to its rightful place.”
