Reaction | Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games cancellation causes frustration, disappointment

Reaction to the news has been swift and severe across most sectors of the state.

State Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe said her community would be disillusioned and disappointed by the announcement.

“This Labor Government has been marred by project delays and cost blow-outs, and yet again regional Victoria misses out,” Ms O’Keeffe said.

“Labor has destroyed Victoria’s reputation as a world-class sporting event destination, and this is an embarrassment.

“In the announcement today, Daniel Andrews said they will deliver a comprehensive $2 billion package to ensure regional Victoria still receives all the benefits that would have been facilitated by the Games. What will our region receive out of that $2 billion?

“I doubt our local businesses in regional Victoria would agree to that level of expectation and who had high hopes for the economic opportunity they were depending on.

“This is a huge blow for the opportunity and bright light that hosting the Games would have attracted to regional Victoria.

“The Shepparton BMX complex had no detail of any financial commitments to what would be delivered in preparation for the Commonwealth Games.

“We have sporting facilities across the electorate that have been ignored and left to deteriorate to unsatisfactory conditions.

“We called for the Shepparton Sports Stadium redevelopment to be funded and considered at the start of the Commonwealth Games proposal.

“I will continue to lobby for that project and other rundown sporting facilities that have been ignored.

“We also want our fair share of the new $1 billion regional housing fund announced by Daniel Andrews today.

“We have a housing crisis, a cost-of-living crisis, and the most dilapidated and unsafe roads we have ever seen. Regional Victoria continues to be let down by this government, and this is yet another example.”

Committee for Greater Shepparton chair Leigh Findlay was looking at the potential upsides from the announcement.

“While many of us are disappointed that we won’t have the eyes of the Commonwealth focused on regional Victoria and have athletes and supporters visiting our region, there is a silver lining,” he said.

“The government will deliver the upgrade of our BMX facilities that will create a further drawcard for our sports precinct.

“The funding for sporting infrastructure, Indigenous economic development and regional tourism initiatives will open the door for a wider range of projects that weren’t previously in the mix — and a welcome opportunity to upgrade some of our tired sporting infrastructure.

“And with chronic housing shortages, the $1 billion regional housing fund has the potential to kick-start delivery of more well-designed, well-located and well-consulted housing in Greater Shepparton.

“The next step is to work together to put forward proposals that will secure a fair share of the funding for Greater Shepparton.”

State Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell would like to see funds redirected to fixing regional roads.

“Daniel Andrews’ cancellation of the regional Commonwealth Games is a massive humiliation to Victoria and the decision is hugely damaging to our reputation as a global sporting events leader,” Ms Lovell said.

“The Premier’s decision to scrap the Commonwealth Games is proof the government did not do their due diligence before agreeing to host the Games.

“The decision is evidence the Andrews Labor Government cannot be trusted to properly cost or manage major projects and casts further doubt on Labor’s promise to deliver the infrastructure and tourism packages they announced today.

“Not only must this infrastructure be delivered as promised, but it is also vital Labor invest some of the existing $2.6 billion in funding to fix regional roads once and for all, a legacy that will ensure the safety of all Victorians.”

Fellow state Member for Northern Victoria Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell also condemned the government’s decision.

“This decision disregards the opportunity to showcase Victoria internationally and signifies a failure in prioritising the needs of the people,” she said.

“The estimated costings blowout from $2.6 billion to $7 billion demonstrates poor financial oversight and a lack of accountability.

“The $2.6 billion allocated for the Games should be redirected towards healthcare, education, infrastructure and job creation, especially in regional Victoria.”

The Commonwealth Games Federation questioned the figures behind the decision.

“The reasons given are financial,” it said in a statement.

“The numbers quoted to us today of $6 billion are 50 per cent more than those advised to the Organising Committee board at its meeting in June.

“These figures are attributed to price escalation primarily due to the unique regional delivery model that Victoria chose for these Games, and in particular relate to village and venue builds and transport infrastructure.

“Since awarding Victoria the Games, the government has made decisions to include more sports and an additional regional hub, and changed plans for venues, all of which have added considerable expense, often against the advice of the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Australia.

“We are disappointed that we were only given eight hours’ notice and that no consideration was given to discussing the situation to jointly find solutions prior to this decision being reached by the government.

“Up until this point, the government had advised that sufficient funding was available to deliver the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games.”

Commonwealth Games Australia chief executive Craig Phillips was also “beyond” disappointed with the news.

“It’s a comprehensive let-down for the athletes, the excited host communities,” he said.

“The stated costs overrun, in our opinion, are a gross exaggeration and not reflective of the operational costs presented to the Victoria 2026 Organising Committee board as recently as June.

“Beyond this, the Victorian Government wilfully ignored recommendations to move events to purpose-built stadia in Melbourne and, in fact, remained wedded to proceeding with expensive temporary venues in regional Victoria.

“CGA would welcome the opportunity to review the financial analysis prepared independently of those who have been involved at the coalface of planning and delivery.

“We thank the dedicated staff at the Organising Committee and the Office for the Commonwealth Games for their effort, acknowledging that today will be a tough time for those who have worked so hard.

“We also welcome the announced commitment to regional housing, a critical legacy component of the Games wholeheartedly supported and encouraged from the outset by CGA.

“The Victorian Government, however, has jeopardised Melbourne and Victoria’s standing as a sporting capital of the world.”