Couple of issues here.

1. Dan used the games and the winning thereof as part of his re-election push last year, particularly in the regions where the events were supposedly going to be held. Now that the election is won and is out of the way, he can ditch the games as surplus to needs - ie the need to win re-election. OK, he's wasted a coupla billion but that's nothing compared to retaining power.

But fear not, come the next election the ALP will find a new shiny bauble to entice the electorate and the usual Dan-ophiles will fall for it all over again.

2. We are increasingly seeing just how hopeless our bureaucracy has become. Snowy 2.0 has already increased in estimated costs by 500% and counting as well as taking a decade longer to complete than estimated. The bureaucracy were equally culpable in the Robodebt debacle. And now this, where the cost estimates went from $2.6b in May to $7b two months later. Who could ever trust a bureaucratic estimate of costs again.

But we will. The next iffy estimate that comes out will be treated by a drooling media as fact - until it's not

I read a piece that the Mayor of the Gold Coast is offering to take up the games.
http://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/other/gold-coast-offers-to-host-the-2026-commonwealth-games-after-victoria-pulled-out/ar-AA1e6kOt

Hi Foxy,

Lawn bowls doesn't come cheap, there's those prissy white uniforms for starters, peanuts and cheese on the bar for the old fellas, and free beer afterwards as well.

Gota give it to SM, "Dan is the moron that walked away from a freeway build and had to pay $1bn in penalties." He said nothing when "ScumO' was the moron that walked away from a submarine build and had to pay $5bn in penalties to the French with nothing to show for it."

With the Noalition government led by ScumO' Morrison wasting a trillion dollars, Australia could have staged the Commonwealth Games 150 times over! At $7 billion each, with the first one in 2026, and every 4 years thereafter the last one would have been in the year 2626

Dear Paul,

South Australia, Queensland, NSW, and WA have all
ruled out making a bid for the Games - ending any
speculation. Dan Andrews said as a State he was
initially happy to help out with the Games - but
not at any price and when it tripled in cost -
this wasn't a difficult decision to make.

What's interesting is that in its 93 history the
event was almost always been hosted in the UK.
Australia, New Zealand, and Canada with Jamaica,
India, and Malaysia being the only one-off
hosts.

Hell no, I like watching the white water canoe events, & the equestrian, even the swimming is better than repeat of lousy soaps. Some of the winter stuff is good watching too. Remember Edy the eagle.

No we just need Australia to stop doing it. Someone else can pay, & it puts the good stuff on at good night time viewing. Running it locally puts the events at the wrong time for TV watching, & somehow we get the screen filled with those dreadful Victorian personalities, who are famous for being famous, at least in Victoria.

Of course to make them meaningful we would have to revert to strictly amateur athletes, as it was back when Melbourne hosted the things.

The Gold Coast apparently is ready to step in as
2026 Hosts for the Commonwealth Games and Canada
is the only country publicly exploring a bid for
the 2030 Commonwealth Games, possibly in Alberta.