Ministers statements: 2026 Commonwealth Games
Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (14:06): I am very pleased to rise to update the house on important announcements that the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events and many other parts—a very long business card, that one—and of course the Minister for Regional Development and I made last week when we confirmed that Victoria had signed an exclusive negotiation agreement with the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Australia. The vision for this outstanding event is not simply taking it off the shelf and re-running, say, the 2006 games, successful as they were, or re-running the 2018 games up on the Gold Coast; it is about doing something fundamentally different, leaving a legacy and making sure that we promote—well, I think—without any argument the most beautiful part of our country, and that of course is regional and rural Victoria. These games under our vision will be predominantly in regional and rural Victoria. It is all about creating infrastructure, both sporting as well as community, about creating housing where there are clear shortages in rural and regional Victoria. It is about not just sporting contests but a cultural festival that would be alongside these amazing games.
Now, of course this two-month period of exclusive negotiation is just that. It is a process of back and forth to determine both the costs and the benefits for Victoria as well as the finer details of how these games would be run. But I think with a real sense of vision and optimism and a real vote of confidence in regional Victoria we are putting forward a clear plan to run a predominantly regional Victorian Commonwealth Games in 2026. It is great for jobs, great for tourism, great for confidence, great for regional Victoria, and I would hope that every Victorian could get behind these exciting opportunities for regional Victoria.