Tasmanian Labor is endorsing the Victorian Government’s decision to scrap the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to a cost blow-out as the right call.
Daniel Andrews has announced the cost of up to $7 billion can’t be justified.
Bass MP Janie Finlay says it’s in stark contrast to the Rockliff Government’s plans for an AFL stadium in Hobart.
“Premier Rockliff is recklessly charging ahead in his quest to build his predecessor Peter Gutwein’s dream, despite not having any real costings or designs for the project,” she said.
“The only person who believes the Hobart stadium will come in at its supposed $715 million budget is the Premier himself.”
Jeremy Rockliff has ruled out Tasmania hosting the games due to the short time frame, although the Mayor of the New Zealand City of Christchurch is reportedly interested.
“Setting ourselves up for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, now in 2023, is a stretch,” the Premier told a media conference on Tuesday.
Former Commonwealth Games official and Devonport-based athletics figure Mike Gunson says it’s a blow for some competitors.
“The cyclists, the swimmers, the runners, the athletics track and field, most of those still have their world championships and they still have the Olympic Games,” he said.
“I really feel for netball and some of the other sports that come and go in the Commonwealth Games such as squash, lawn bowls and cricket; I think they’ll miss it greatly, and I think they’ll be exceptionally disappointed.”
