PREMIER Daniel Andrews and his deputy Jacinta Allan are not volunteering to face questions from a Federal inquiry over cancelling the Commonwealth Games.<\/p>\n
A Senate committee investigating Australia’s preparedness to host Commonwealth, Olympic and Paralympic Games has agreed to reopen public submissions following Victoria’s decision to scrap hosting the 2026 event.<\/p>\n
Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie wants it to call Mr Andrews, Deputy-Premier and former Commonwealth Games delivery minister Jacinta Allan, former Games legacy minister Harriet Shing and Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas to give evidence.<\/p>\n
The Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee doesn’t have the power to compel the Premier or ministers to appear but could issue invitations.<\/p>\n
Its next hearing is scheduled for August before it reports in December.<\/p>\n
Mr Andrews refused be drawn when asked if he would accept an invitation to appear before the inquiry.<\/p>\n
“I haven’t received an invitation so I won’t be dealing with completely hypothetical matters,” he said.<\/p>\n
“There’s a negotiation going on and we’ll appropriately respect that.”<\/p>\n
Ms Allan, who the Victorian opposition is calling on to resign over the debacle and is viewed as a premier in waiting, was similarly non-committal.<\/p>\n
“There is some speculation in the press and senator McKenzie has been running around saying all sorts of things,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Let’s wait and see what happens in Canberra.”<\/p>\n