The Senate inquiry investigating Australia’s preparedness to host Commonwealth, Olympic and Paralympic Games handed down their interim report within the Senate right now, revealing para-athletes’ pathway to Paris 2028 Olympics has been destroyed and native communities have been ignored by federal and state Labor governments.
Shadow Infrastructure and Transport Minister Senator Bridget McKenzie said it was clear that state and federal Labor governments had not meaningfully engaged with native communities.
Shadow Infrastructure and Transport Minister Senator Bridget McKenzie said it was clear that State and Federal Governments had thrown into doubt the planning, timeline and scope of infrastructure promised to Victorian communities.
“In Victoria, the missed alternatives of the Commonwealth Games have been devastating,” Senator McKenzie stated.
“The inquiry heard from some incredibly courageous witnesses in Victoria who gave evidence that the Andrews Labor Government had did not ask them what infrastructure and planning their communities needed, with some stating they felt ignored by a city-centric Government.
“In Queensland, the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s Gabba Redevelopment has left the local community feeling overlooked of the choice making process and concerned for the future.
“The hosting of Commonwealth and Olympic Games have to be for the Australian communities it represents, and not for the federal government of the day’s pet projects.”
Shadow Minister for Sport Senator Anne Ruston stated the inquiry exposed the exceptional disadvantage that the cancellation of the 2026 Victorian Commonwealth Games has created for our athletes, and notably our para-athletes.
“This Inquiry has been elementary in providing athletes, sporting bodies and communities with a voice following the extremely disappointing cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games,” Senator Ruston said.
“As the CEO of Paralympics Australia testified, the Commonwealth Games are important for para-athletes to classify for different main worldwide sporting occasions – You can’t be what you can’t see, and the cancellation of 2026 has created a big missed opportunity to encourage and encourage Australians living with incapacity.
“Instead of standing up for our hardworking athletes and para-athletes, the Albanese Labor Government has stuck its head within the sand. It was astounding to hear that the Minister for Sport has not reached out to Commonwealth Games Australia, even following group momentum in path of an Australian answer.”
Chair of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, Senator Matthew Canavan said Dan Andrews’ cancellation of the Commonwealth Games was not the Federal Government’s fault but with Australia’s status on the line the Australian Government should try to assist repair it.
“It is surprising that we are seeing more proactivity from the Gold Coast Mayor than the Federal Government to attempt to discover a answer. The least the Federal Government might do is meet with local and state governments and see what may be done,” Senator Canavan stated.
“The Commonwealth Games is of particular importance to Pacific Island nations so we should do every little thing we can to keep the Commonwealth Games in Australia. We mustn’t die wondering on this.
“The Queensland Government must do a better job to deliver local communities on aspect with the Games. It wouldn’t be an excellent end result to have local communities protesting while the Games are on. We have 9 years to construct a powerful partnership with these communities so there ought to be no excuses not to verify all Queenslanders assist the Games.”
The report additionally found that the Victorian Government actively worked to hinder the inquiry and the engagement of different witnesses after the Government declined to take part.
The final report for the Inquiry is due on December 6, 2023.
A link to the interim report could be found here:
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Tabled_Documents/3420
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