A federal inquiry, reopened to investigate the state government’s decision last month to pull out of hosting the event, will travel to Victoria within weeks to hold hearings.
Committee chair and Nationals Senator Matt Canavan on Thursday said he had written to Mr. Andrews and his deputy Jacinta Allan to request their appearance but the invitation had not been accepted.“It’s a lost opportunity that Premier Andrews and Minister Allan are refusing to subject themselves to the scrutiny of the Senate,” committee member and Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie told reporters in Canberra.
“We can’t force them to appear. That’s why the chair wrote to him (Andrews) seeking his agreement and to facilitate him being able to be up front and honest with the Australian people.”
The premier’s office has been contacted for comment.
Ms. McKenzie said the Senate committee will be calling Commonwealth Games Federation president Dame Louise Martin and chief executive Katie Sadleir to give evidence.
Other requested witnesses include department heads, contractors, and marketing agencies, along with consultancy firms Ernst & Young and Deloitte.
Ms. McKenzie said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and federal sports minister Anika Wells have been missing in action since Victoria reneged on hosting the event, citing a cost estimate blowout from $2.6 billion (US$1.7 billion) to between $6 billion to $7 billion.
“This is not the Victorian government’s reputation that’s been decimated, it is Australia’s reputation,” she said.
“And it is up to Anthony Albanese and Anika Wells to take leadership, to facilitate an Australian solution to hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games.”
Simultaneously, Mr. Andrews and his ministers are facing pressure to face a state-based parliamentary inquiry to be established after Labor lost an upper house vote on Wednesday.
Labor’s upper house leader Jaclyn Symes said she would not encourage Mr. Andrews or Ms. Allan to face the inquiry, pointing to the doctrine of exclusive cognisance in which each house of parliament cannot interfere with the other.
“This is an upper house inquiry,” she said at state parliament.
“If they (the opposition) wanted to hear from lower house members, they could’ve come to us and considered another forum.”
Without powers to compel lower house MPs to publicly give evidence, fellow state government minister Danny Pearson labelled the cross-party select committee a political stunt.
“This is just all about trying to call witnesses in front of cameras and a bit of theatrics,” he said.
Opposition Leader John Pesutto said Mr. Andrews and Ms. Allan failing to appear would show contempt for the public and rejected the coalition should have chosen another forum to seek answers from the pair.
“There is no reason why they can’t come up,” he said.
“The only reason they’re refusing to ... is because they’ve got so much to hide.”
The Victorian inquiry will provide interim findings by April 30 next year and a final report by April 2025.
Victoria’s auditor-general has also confirmed his office will follow up an opposition referral to examine the Games withdrawal.
