Tuesday, 17 October 2023

 John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:59): My question is to the Premier. Following the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games, the government released a document that blamed the Office of the Commonwealth Games for additional cost blowouts of more than $2 billion. The former CEO gave evidence to the select committee last week that he had never seen that figure before, stating:

… that is not a number that I had awareness of.

If the $2 billion in additional costs were not from the Premier’s department or from the Department of Treasury and Finance or the Office of the Commonwealth Games, did the government just make this number up?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (15:00): First and foremost, the question that described it as ‘blaming’ the Office of the Commonwealth Games is wrong in the contribution from the Leader of the –

John Pesutto interjected.

Jacinta ALLAN: I don’t know, ask your colleagues what they’re calling you. Don’t ask me.

The SPEAKER: Order! Through the Chair, Premier.

Jacinta ALLAN: As has been said on a number of occasions, as estimates were becoming actuals we were going through market processes – there were something like 1200 different procurement decisions that needed to be made in terms of looking at how to best deliver the games. We were getting advice from officials, we were getting feedback from the market process, and as those estimates were becoming actuals, as we were getting further and further through, particularly in the weeks leading up to the decision, the $6 billion to $7 billion figure became far too much to deliver a 12-day sporting event. This is something the Leader of the Opposition has previously said he supported and that he would do the same. We are focusing right now on delivering the regional package for regional communities.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the question asked whether the $2 billion figure was just made up. Can the Premier come back to that question, please?

The SPEAKER: Order! A point of order is not an opportunity to repeat the question. The Premier has concluded her answer.

 John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (15:02): Will the Premier provide a detailed breakdown of the $2 billion in additional actual costs?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (15:02): I really do thank the Leader of the Opposition for this question, because this goes to the reason why we made the decision to not proceed with a 12-day sporting event that was going to cost between $6 billion and $7 billion – because it was too much. We actually did not spend that money because it was too much for a 12-day sporting event, particularly when we could have the opportunity to instead invest in the reasons why we agreed to host the games in the first place – to invest in regional housing, to invest in community sport, tourism and major events and to support the legacy benefits for regional communities. That is why we are focused on –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the question was very simple; it just asked for a breakdown of the $2 billion.

The SPEAKER: Order! I have reminded members throughout question time previously that I cannot tell the minister or the Premier how to answer a question. The Premier was being relevant to the question that was asked. The Premier has concluded her answer.