A war of words has erupted on Channel 7’s Sunrise after Queensland city’s mayor Tom Tate launched a desperate bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Federal cabinet minister Jason Clare poured cold water on the idea, but deputy leader of the Opposition, Sussan Ley, lashed the Federal Government, saying it was lacking leadership on the matter.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Sussan Ley calls Games backflip an ‘international embarrassment’.
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Ley also said Victorian Premier Dan Andrews had “embarrassed” Australia in front of the whole world after his decision to pull out of hosting the sporting event.
Pressure is now on Victoria to deliver billions of dollars to spurned regional towns, which means Gold Coast’s bid to host the Games looks unlikely.
“Where our focus is … is the $3.4 billion that we are investing in the Olympic games in Brisbane,” Clare told Seven’s Sunrise on Friday.
“I heard what (Sunrise host Matt Shirvington) said the other day, ‘if you are an athlete they are preparing for the next Olympics or the Olympics after that, you’d be devastated by this’, (so) I get how disappointed people are and I get how passionate Tom is as well.
“I can imagine a Commonwealth Games would be pretty great at the Gold Coast, certainly the weather would be warmer than Melbourne, it’s a little piece of paradise. Where our focus is is the money we are investing to get Brisbane ready for the Olympic Games in 2032.”
But Tate – who also appeared on Sunrise – said Clare did not have “the full facts”.
“My point is this, we are not asking for any more money, we are just asking for the allocation of funds for the operation that he would have had to spend four Victoria, so it’s repositioning of that fund that’s already put aside,” Tate said.
“The second point to that is, Sussan (Ley) was right earlier when she said that it’s an embarrassment for the whole world.
“This is an Australian issue. When we shake hands and make a deal, we are good to our word and the Gold Coast can absolutely deliver this and for no more money because we already have the money.”
Tate believes that funding is around $1.2 billion and Gold Coast wouldn’t even “need that much” because infrastructure was already built and people with “good hearts” would volunteer.
“We’re ready to go …. just transfer the funds.”
The 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games also cost $1.2 billion to host and its infrastructure remained in good shape.
However, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has already ruled out her state coming to the Games’ rescue.
Ley said on Sunrise: “I’m in Melbourne (and) it’s an international embarrassment.
“Everyone is talking about (it) and (there) is no leadership from this Prime Minister about Australia’s reputation as a sporting state internationally. An international embarrassment.”
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called for an Australian solution to hosting the Games but no premiers or chief ministers are interested.
Victoria dumped hosting the Games across five regional hubs over a forecast cost blowout of up to $4.4 billion after it initially budgeted $2.6b for the 12-day event.
It instead unveiled a $2b package for the regions, including $1b to build more than 1300 new social and affordable housing homes and $150 million for tourism and events.
Deputy Prime Minister and Corio MP Richard Marles said he was disappointed for the regional city of Geelong but had been personally assured all infrastructure upgrades will be delivered.
“What now matters to me is that the commitments that the state government have made to build the infrastructure that they were promising in Geelong, which includes a new swimming centre, is followed through on,” he said.
Support for the Victorian government has slipped following its Games backflip, according to a Roy Morgan poll.
The SMS survey of more than 1000 Victorians on Wednesday and Thursday showed a two-party preferred swing of 8.5 per cent from Labor (53 per cent) to the coalition (47 per cent) since late May.
Nonetheless, 58 per cent of those polled backed Andrews’ decision to cancel hosting the Games compared to 42 per cent who were against it.
The South African city of Durban was stripped of the 2022 Games over a lack of progress in preparations, with the original 2026 host Birmingham stepping in to fill the void.
The last time a Commonwealth Games was completely cancelled was during World War II.
– With AAP
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