Victoria Government Criticised for Withholding Documents in Commonwealth Games Bid Inquiry

Amid the chaos over the hosting of the Commonwealth Games, the inquiry that is probing the cancelled bid has claimed that the Victorian government failed to submit required documents for assessment.
The Select Committee on the 2026 Commonwealth Games Bid requested the government to follow specific procedures for claiming executive privilege over these documents within two weeks. It also noted that failure to comply with Parliament’s orders or its committees to provide documents may be considered contempt.
The report, tabled in the Senate on Sept. 10, says the government did not follow the proper process for claiming executive privilege under Legislative Council Standing Orders for documents requested on May 1.
“These documents are important for the Committee’s inquiry, and the government’s failure to engage with the process may hinder the Committee’s ability to perform its duties as outlined in its terms of reference,” the report stated.
The Committee explained that the motion’s mover could dispute any claims of executive privilege and would be resolved by appointing an independent legal referee to assess the validity of such claims.
It criticised the government’s self-assessment of executive privilege, calling it a violation of standing orders and an obstruction to a transparent inquiry.
As per the report, on May 31, the attorney-general informed the Committee that 353 documents fell within the scope of the order, with executive privilege claimed over 350 documents and partial claims over the remaining three.
The attorney-general referred to past letters from former attorney-generals and the premier, which outlined the government’s stance on protecting the public interest and the limits of the Legislative Council’s power to call for documents.
Meanwhile, reports suggest Glasgow is set to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games after Victoria’s sudden withdrawal.
Scotland’s government is believed to be finalising its agreement, with Commonwealth Games Australia offering a multimillion-dollar investment to help seal the deal.
In July 2023, then-premier for Victoria Daniel Andrews cancelled the bid, claiming that the cost of hosting the event had increased significantly. Originally estimated at $2.6 billion (US$1.8 billion), the event’s cost had reportedly ballooned to almost $7 billion.
Later, the Victorian auditor-general released a report that found the state government’s cost estimates to be “overstated and not transparent.”