Commonwealth Games
Frank but fearful: Senior bureaucrats scared of repercussions for talking to ombudsman
Ombudsman Deborah Glass recommended premiers be banned from selecting senior bureaucrats under a bold plan to restore the independence of the public service.
- by Annika Smethurst, Broede Carmody and Kieran Rooney
Latest
Andrews gave direction not to inform Games minister, inquiry hears
“This, I think, has been the only time I’ve had a conversation like the one that I had,” Department of Jobs secretary Tim Ada said.
- by Rachel Eddie
Gold Coast scraps bid to host troubled 2026 Commonwealth Games
The Gold Coast has cancelled its $700 million bid to host the 2026/27 Commonwealth Games, after the Victorian government pulled out in July.
- by Suzanne Simonot
‘I just wanted to be a normal girl’: Why Bendere Oboya retired at 22
At 17 she ran for Australia at the Commonwealth Games. Bendere Oboya was prematurely dubbed “the next Cathy Freeman”. At 22 she was retired.
- by Michael Gleeson
Athletics Australia says Andrews’ unapologetic manner made Games decision worse
Daniel Andrews’ unapologetic “easy decision” to scrap the 2026 Commonwealth Games made the pain of the devastating decision even worse, AA said.
- by Michael Gleeson
Department secretary told not to tell his minister about Commonwealth Games fiasco
Department secretary Tim Ada said he didn’t inform minister Harriet Shing that lawyers had been called in because Victoria’s top public servant Jeremi Moule instructed him not to.
- by Rachel Eddie and Kieran Rooney
Exclusive
Australian Grand Prix
Taxpayers upgrade Paddock Club for F1 owners – who will take all the profit
Victoria will provide new or substantially refurbished corporate hospitality facilities at the Albert Park track but forgo the revenue they generate.
- by Chip Le Grand
Allan briefed on ‘compromised’ Games a day before glowing evidence
New documents show that one day before she provided glowing evidence to parliament, Jacinta Allan was briefed that Commonwealth Games costs were blowing out.
- by Rachel Eddie
Here’s what we learnt from Victoria’s ‘Dump Day’
Every year the state government puts out hundreds of annual reports on one day in an effort to avoid scrutiny. More than 240 appeared on Wednesday.
- by Kieran Rooney, Madeleine Heffernan, Broede Carmody, Robyn Grace, Rachel Eddie and Henrietta Cook
‘Simply not believable’: Shing faces fiery questions in Games inquiry
Harriet Shing, who was the minister for Commonwealth Games legacy, rejected accusations she had misled parliament about what she knew and when.
- by Rachel Eddie
‘Most challenging time’: Games boss says para-athletes missing out
Para-athletes have lost a rare chance to be classified into events because the 2026 Commonwealth Games was cancelled, the local Games boss says.
- by Annika Smethurst