Victoria Government Criticised for Withholding Documents in Commonwealth Games Bid Inquiry

The report says the government did not follow the proper process for claiming executive privilege under Legislative Council Standing Orders.

Commonwealth Games Australia CEO Craig Phillips speaks to media during a press conference in Melbourne, Australia, on July 18, 2023. AAP Image/James Ross

Amid the chaos over the hosting of the Commonwealth Games, the inquiry that is probing the cancelled bid has claimed that the Victorian government failed to submit required documents for assessment.

The Select Committee on the 2026 Commonwealth Games Bid requested the government to follow specific procedures for claiming executive privilege over these documents within two weeks. It also noted that failure to comply with Parliament’s orders or its committees to provide documents may be considered contempt.