Premier not set on inquiry

PREMIER Daniel Andrews and his deputy Jacinta Allan are not volunteering to face questions from a Federal inquiry over cancelling the Commonwealth Games.

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.

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.

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.

Its next hearing is scheduled for August before it reports in December.

Mr Andrews refused be drawn when asked if he would accept an invitation to appear before the inquiry.

“I haven’t received an invitation so I won’t be dealing with completely hypothetical matters,” he said.

“There’s a negotiation going on and we’ll appropriately respect that.”

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.

“There is some speculation in the press and senator McKenzie has been running around saying all sorts of things,” she said.

“Let’s wait and see what happens in Canberra.”

– CALLUM GODDE/ AAP