Victoria Cancels Hosting 2026 Commonwealth Games

S2 on 18/07/2023 - 10:15
Last edited 18/07/2023 - 14:40 by 1 other user

Front page news Who remembered it was even in Australia?

Very disappointing for the athletes. Shame that it has to cost so much. No doubt the cost of building anything contributed to this.

I've seen one comment saying it's become a spectacle more than a sporting event. That got me thinking that I would accept it being scaled down to be less visually extravagant and more focused on sporting achievement.
What are your thoughts on cancelling the 2026 Commonwealth Games?

Edit 1: The cost of the games was originally budgeted at $2.6 billion, but new estimates is $6 billion and potential more than $7 billion. This has triggered the decision to cancel.

Edit 2: politics and finances aside, it is extremely sad for sport.

Sports & Outdoors Commonwealth Games

Comments

  • richmond12 on 18/07/2023 - 14:29
    +2

    Interested to know - how are vic gov allowed to cancelled 1 year after agreeing and 3 years from the event? surely thats an organisers nightmare… its like me booking a wedding venue and few months out the host venue cancels me?

    • S2 on 18/07/2023 - 14:39

      Never knew cancelling like this was an option either.

    • infinite on 18/07/2023 - 16:54

      They'll pay costs and break-fee's to the tune of many millions of dollars, but the bigger issue for the tax payers is that the 100's of workers the state government hired to run the games have been guaranteed permanency in the public service and will be re-deployed with guaranteed incomes on-going. That will cost tax payers an additional tens of millions of dollars a year permanently. Enjoy the new taxes coming to cover that !

  • cuteseal on 18/07/2023 - 14:35
    +2

    Dollaredoos aside, I do feel bad for all the athletes that are training for events and competitions such as the Commonwealth Games who look forward these opportunities to represent Australia and compete on the world stage.

    Athletes only are in their prime for a very short span, so even a 2 year delay (until the next Olympics) could mean them missing out an opportunity of a lifetime.

    • p1 ama on 18/07/2023 - 16:22
      +2

      I do feel bad for all the athletes that are training for events and competitions such as the Commonwealth Games who look forward these opportunities to represent Australia and compete on the world stage.

      Why athletes in particular?

      For example, there are thousands and thousands of people who worked hard throughout school, went to university, are great employees looking forward to a great career and end up losing their jobs.

      I've never understood the worship of athletes. Sure, I respect them for their dedication, discipline, talents, but not more so than an engineer, doctor, artist, builder or whoever else who displays excellence in what they do.

    • infinite on 18/07/2023 - 17:05

      Dollaredoos aside, I do feel bad for all the athletes that are training for events and competitions such as the Commonwealth Games who look forward these opportunities to represent Australia and compete on the world stage.

      Don't feel bad. The Com Games aren't even considered a world class/stage event by most athletes.

      As an athlete you only ever get to compete in the events you are healthy enough for and the Com Games for most athletes are of no significance due to their lack of financial reward or equivalent prize. Most competitors in the Com Games are just "scholarship" or government-sponsored athletes & as one of them, depending on the sport you are forced to attend and compete, often against your will as you risk injury or illness which may preclude you from competing in an event that makes it worth your while. Athletes can't give their own opinion, have almost no ability to say what they want and can't engage with people on any level not approved by team managers, so it's a worthless proposition now even in terms of "I guess I might get some free publicity".

  • Jimbot2000 on 18/07/2023 - 14:47
    +3

    Overrated event. Like the Commonwealth it's had its time and well past its used by date. It's a good thing to let it die.

    It's not the olympics or world championships so stop pretending it's either prestigous or elite.

    Most struggle to name a current Commonwealth Games athelete outside swimming. Don't get sucked in by sporting bodies who leech public money for funding these junkets.

    Ozbargain economists know where money should be spent.

  • ripesashimi on 18/07/2023 - 15:15
    -3

    There seems to be an assumption that we should somehow care about sports, while Australia has never had a significant sport fan base, either by sheer number or ratio.

    • infinite on 18/07/2023 - 17:13
      +5

      Australia has one of the strongest sporting cultures in the world.

      We volunteer more per capita in amateur sports than anyone else, we rank in the top 3 for attending sports per capita, we participate in amateur sports almost more than anyone else and of the top 10 sports in the world we host professional & amateur leagues for 9 of them.

      Australians care about sports in general and there is no denying that.

      • Randolph Duke on 18/07/2023 - 19:19
        +8

        Imagine living in Australia and claiming with a straight face Australian's don't care about sport. LOL

        • infinite on 18/07/2023 - 21:57
          +4

          Reddit seems to be leaking again.

          Someone should lay down some bug spray again and send them scurrying back to the sewage pipe they crawled out of.

          • [Deactivated] on 19/07/2023 - 10:55

            @infinite: Their protest failed and Reddit's CEO openly mocked them so they've started scurrying to other platforms. Same with out of touch twitter users.

            • infinite on 19/07/2023 - 15:53
              +1

              @[Deactivated]: They deserve to be mocked.

              Bunch of losers attempting to "unionize", while being nothing but virtual squatters and basement-dwellers who were volunteering to be paid nothing as internet janitors for the grand prize of imaginary internet points.

  • this one on 18/07/2023 - 15:16
    +3

    and QLD should do the same with the olympics. Total waste of money, will never get the return sydney got in 2000

  • Kranbone on 18/07/2023 - 15:22
    +1

    What an embarrassing situation. I really feel the CG has lost relevance these days. All that generally happens is Australia and England smash random 3rd world countries.

    • Ghost47 on 18/07/2023 - 15:54
      +1

      That’s why it’s so important, so the more developed Commonwealth nations can smash other nations and feel good about themselves.

    • infinite on 18/07/2023 - 17:17

      The Commonwealth Games once used to have a really good purpose, in that it served for many sports as a ranking or qualification tool to qualify and enter actual world class or world level events afterward. That stopped being the case decades ago now though & has simply just become an advertising platform to be used while D-class nobodies celebrate beating opponents ranked hundreds of places lower than them.

  • SkMed on 18/07/2023 - 15:31
    +4

    Sounds like the right choice. Costs are blowing out for everything atm so not surprised the cost has gone up so much. I honestly wasnt even aware we were hosting them, so surely no huge loss lol.

    Just read the $2 billion will instead be funnelled into housing in regional Vic and for local sports etc etc. Seems a much more sensible use of funds than some games that barely anyone cares about for a few weeks.

    • infinite on 18/07/2023 - 17:19
      +1

      Just read the $2 billion will instead be funnelled into housing in regional Vic and for local sports etc etc. Seems a much more sensible use of funds than some games that barely anyone cares about for a few weeks.

      Spoiler Alert: They'll be backing out of that promise later down the line, too.

      • SkMed on 19/07/2023 - 10:00

        Nah, I highly doubt that.

    • jv on 18/07/2023 - 22:01
      +3

      Sounds like the right choice.

      To waste $100s of millions for something we should never have signed up for?

      • SkMed on 19/07/2023 - 10:05
        +1

        I mean it's the right choice when costs have blown out by more than double isn't it?… Would you prefer it to just go ahead at the cost of $7+ billion?

        At the original $2-3 billion it seems logical to go ahead and wouldn't have phased me tbh. Regional Vic needs the help, but if it went ahead at a cost $7+ billion then I dare say a lot of people wld be pretty pissed.

        Doesn't matter how many times you stomp your feet, seems they made the right call to pull out.

        • jv on 19/07/2023 - 10:17

          Would you prefer it to just go ahead at the cost of $7+ billion?

          Only Dan has said it's $7 billion. He hasn't shown how he came up with this figure. He's probably made it up like he does with most things.

          Most other people claim the figure has been grossly exaggerated.
          https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/states-rule-out-hosting-…

          It is also looking like it may cost us over a billion in compensation to cancel the contract…

          Also, he refused to consider moving many of the main events to Melbourne where we already had the infrastructure and venues available for pretty much nothing….

          Dan is a basket case…

          • SkMed on 19/07/2023 - 10:58

            @jv: Lol, you really think Dan just comes up with this stuff off the cuff?..

            There's literally hundreds of people behind the scenes working out this stuff, he is just the one who has to announce it.

            The cost of my own project looks like it will be inflated 50 percent this FY, It's really not too hard to imagine their initial cost estimates being low when they announced the games. We all know Gov projects generally blow out thanks to the public sector just inflating costs simply because it is a Gov contract, its unfortunately the norm and to be expected. Add the inflation and rising cost of materials and services on top and its not hard to imagine it blowing out to 7 billion or so.

            • jv on 19/07/2023 - 11:01
              +1

              @SkMed:

              Dan just comes up with this stuff off the cuff?..

              Yep…. He's done it many time before, and ignores questions that are asked about it…

        • jv on 19/07/2023 - 10:20
          +1

          seems they made the right call to pull out.

          Seems like you are happy to keep spending billions of tax payers money cancelling contracts and getting nothing back…

          Dan seems to have made it a habit…

          • SkMed on 19/07/2023 - 11:28

            @jv: I'll believe it costs "Billions" to cancel when I see it. An exit clause is never going to be more than the initial contract/s. So it cant be more than the initial estimates. Even costing 10's of millions to exit is better than wasting 7+ billion.

            • jv on 19/07/2023 - 12:01
              +1

              @SkMed:

              better than wasting 7+ billion.

              which it appears now has been grossly exaggerated for political reasons.

              I'll believe it costs "Billions" to cancel when I see it.

              That's what Brisbane was told it would cost to cancel the 2018 games.

          • SkMed on 19/07/2023 - 11:44

            @jv: I find the hierocracy of your $1billion estimate pretty funny tbh.

  • Protractor on 18/07/2023 - 15:34

    If all the hangers on in the CG trough donate and crowd fund they can run it themselves. The homeless are more important than a bunch of professional entitled full time cotton wooled specialists. You can tell it was the right decision by the blow back from the ghould on the LNP side state and federal.
    3 cheers for the King (LOL)

  • KillBotFactory on 18/07/2023 - 16:05
    +1

    NSW will probably offer to take it, just to stick it to Victoria

    • pharkurnell on 18/07/2023 - 16:25
      +3

      nope NSW told em to shove it as did SA/WA….
      nobody wants it

      • Protractor on 18/07/2023 - 21:55

        Adopt Russia and they can run it.

    • infinite on 18/07/2023 - 17:21

      Every state leader & opposition leader has already publicly said "no" to the CG's and gone into length about why it's a waste of money. The VIC government was the only one doing the opposite. Even the former and current federal governments told them it was a waste of money & refused kicking in tax payer funds for it.

  • Thaal Sinestro on 18/07/2023 - 16:41
    +3

    Good news; next cancel the Olympic games in Queensland. We will have a massive cost blowout otherwise.

    Elite sport should be self funding. It shouldn't get a cent of taxpayers money. Give the money to the destitute instead. So what if an Australian wins a medal. It does nothing to improve my life or the lives of other poor people; it just makes the ego of the athlete glow radioactive. I didn't win the medal, I can't claim any credit, yet low IQ TV viewers somehow do; they feel as though they have personally "won".

    • S2 on 18/07/2023 - 19:22
      +1

      So what if an Australian wins a medal. It does nothing to improve my life or the lives of other poor people;

      This is such a bitter comment. Ironically, watching some awesome Aussie althletes compete and win may lift your mood.
      I particularly enjoy the great story of Australian sporting icon, Steven Bradbury.

      • p1 ama on 18/07/2023 - 21:48

        This is such a bitter comment. Ironically, watching some awesome Aussie althletes compete and win may lift your mood.

        But why?

        I think it's great for them that they won, they've likely worked very hard for it and have dedicated their life to it. However, why is their sporting achievement supposed to "uplift my mood" more than countless other personal achievements of other people?

        I particularly enjoy the great story of Australian sporting icon, Steven Bradbury

        I'm glad he won, but again, I'm not sure how this materially impacts anyone else's life.

    • BobLim on 18/07/2023 - 20:52

      I can't claim any credit

      Sure you can. You and I both probably paid for their training

  • TheBilly on 18/07/2023 - 17:06

    On the surface you would think, what a waste of money. The money can be better spent on more essential needs for the city as opposed to sports stadiums. I.e. housing, education, health, infrastructure, roads. It is definitely how I would view the situation, so the cancellation is good.

    HOWEVER Sydney did a great job of repurposing the Olympics infrastructure from 2000. Areas surrounding Olympic park are highly desirable places to live, similarly they have so much parkland, casual sporting facilities, events venues. In hindsight it seems like a good investment now. I do believe though may cities around the world have failed in successfully repurposing their events infrastructure, so Sydney may just be an anomaly and Melbourne dodged a bullet.

    • Ghost47 on 18/07/2023 - 17:16
      +2

      Sydney is very landlocked so they need to manage the space they have as efficiently as possible. Melbourne on the other hand is quite flat and can sprawl out easily.

      Since the games were going to be regional, whatever the ROI was slated to be it would have to be contingent on the regions growing into the future, I’d say that’s more wishful thinking than anything. I don’t see much point or ROI in building a multimillion dollar stadium in Ballarat.

      It seems they’re going to try and make it up by build more houses in the regions instead with a $2bn spending package.

  • pnt on 18/07/2023 - 17:30
    +2

    How do they even spend $7B? That's $1.4M per athlete. Give me $10,000 for flights and accommodation, and I'd turn up to compete in your games. I'm sure ozbargain could find a deal.

    • Pelicannn on 18/07/2023 - 17:37
      +1

      Maybe OzB can be a category for athletes to compete in. Fastest fingers to type up and post a free Steam game deal.

  • xdigger on 18/07/2023 - 18:14

    Import cheaper tradies from overseas to build up Australia infrastructure and solve the housing and building crisis, we are already importing nurses doctors and fruitpickers from developing countries anyway.

  • browser on 18/07/2023 - 18:17

    Why would it cost $2.6B to host a game? Let alone $6-7B. Would be interesting to see a breakdown of the estimate and what are all the expenses?

    There are perfectly functional sports venues, they can't be expecting to build new facilities every time there's an international event. Fair enough if the host has to cover ground transportation, accommodation, food, and associated management/labour costs. What else?

    $2.6B over 13 days is $200M a day. Spread over 5,000 athletes, each athlete will cost $40,000 per day!

    If it will actually cost $6-7B, that's $100,000 per athlete per day!

    • Randolph Duke on 18/07/2023 - 19:21
      +1

      Because they were going to build infrastructure for the events in regional centres, which would be re-purposed post games. I think Victoria could have hosted it in Melbourne, but clearly they don't want to run it. Probably realised a lot of people see it as the poor mans Olympics, and if you were travelling as a spectator, would you come to Melbourne in 2026 or Brisbane 2032?

    • xdigger on 18/07/2023 - 21:51

      Expensive tradies, we should get cheaper tradies from overseas to build up Australia infrastructure and solve the housing and building crisis.

    • Mozzmanau on 20/07/2023 - 00:18

      The cost blow out is a LIE. It will come out soon enough.

  • kosh52 on 18/07/2023 - 18:48
    +1

    It was going to put regional cities like Ballarat and Geelong on the map. They would be most disappointed by this.

    • Protractor on 18/07/2023 - 19:56
      +3

      I just found them. They said to stop looking .They feel self conscious.
      Seriously , ask the majority of the locals not the vested interests.
      Invasions are overrrated

    • browser on 18/07/2023 - 22:58
      +2

      Spending big to host events to stimulate local economy is a myth, outsiders will come in to make money then bugger off. The newly built facilities will be under utilised in the long run and become a burden to up keep.

      Those regional centres won't become tourist hotspots just because they hosted a sports event. Businesses wanting to invest will be motived by other incentives, not because a game was hosted there.

      Basically there is no tangible benefits for being on the map, at least not enough to offset the billions that need to be spent in the first place.

    • Mozzmanau on 20/07/2023 - 00:19

      They voted for him so they can suck it. You get what you vote for

  • Protractor on 18/07/2023 - 19:55

    'sad for sport' ? We are pre-recession with massive social upheavals around housing. Not the time for crocodile tears for a political point scoring exercise .

    • Mozzmanau on 20/07/2023 - 00:20
      +1

      Wait fun we get the bill from the commonalty games for cancelling the contract 🤣🤣

  • Cluster on 18/07/2023 - 20:49
    +3

    The Empire, err, Commonwealth Games are dead. Even South Australia doesn't want to pick up the scraps. If the Games die in 2026, not many people will miss them.

    • Protractor on 20/07/2023 - 09:50

      Taxpayers should not be footing out $$$ for any sportsperson /team who receives enough sponsorship etc to cover a self supporting lifestyle, let alone feeding the rich elites and professionals. The Olympics changed its rules years ago and now professionals can blitz the field in every category. Look at how test cricket has become a hobby for players on millions of dollars per year.It's perverse

  • Empharand on 18/07/2023 - 21:33

    It's sad as it would have helped inject money back into the local economy from overseas tourism, help local small businesses and created a shit tonne of jobs, granted only for 12 days (excluding bump in / bump outs before / after the games).

    Whether that money injected would out-weigh the new estimate is the question.

    Now that it's not happening anymore I don't suppose Danny boy can throw that original 2.6 billion back into the economy?

    • Danstar on 18/07/2023 - 22:18

      Prob will cost about that much for cancelling them

      • jv on 19/07/2023 - 10:25

        When Brisbane looked at cancelling the 2018 games, they were told is was going to cost $1 billion to cancel the contract.
        That was 5 years ago…

        Image how much it will cost now… Definitely more than $1 billion.

    • SkMed on 19/07/2023 - 10:46
      +1

      They are putting that 2 billion back into the economy. They already announced it will be used to find local sporting community's and provide much needed housing in regional Vic. I'd think most people agree this is a better use of the funds, including my family who all live in regional Vic.

  • capslock janitor on 18/07/2023 - 22:36

    Scale it down fs

    I totally forgot there was a commonwealth games

  • rr64 on 18/07/2023 - 23:10
    +1

    I'd rather we hadn't spent any money on the project at all but if we can save billions by cancelling it then that's what I think is the right thing to do.

  • LoserScott on 19/07/2023 - 08:18
    -1

    Once Australia says yes to indigenous referendum(even tho theres a few bad eggs among them but far many bad eggs on here) then we can have commonwealth and Olympic games, until then it should be banned like you filthy animals.

    • jv on 19/07/2023 - 10:27

      What does that have to do with global warming?

  • Lastchancetosee on 19/07/2023 - 08:48

    TLDR all the comments, but the mayor of Ballarat was interviewed on RN last night and he confirmed that all the infrastructure planned for the regions would go ahead, so the communities wouldn't miss out on that.

    Obviously, there would be none of the Games tourism, but you have to remember that essentially, the tax payer cops the expenses while private companies/businesses take any profit.

    It's also debatable as to any value in the CW games even from a sporting perspective, as so many of the top countries are excluded.

    Interesting to note that no one else in the Country is rushing to take the Games, apart from WA making a few noises.

  • 2esc on 19/07/2023 - 10:09
    +1

    Always gets me when either the Olympics or Commonwealth games are on people stay up late watching but they wont look the rest of the year at those sports or any sports.

    • Cluster on 19/07/2023 - 10:26

      I take a great interest in handball for a few days during the Olympics, and then won't watch it again for four years.

  • DazMon on 19/07/2023 - 10:21

    Today's news says that no-one knows where he's getting his $6B estimate from, none of the past games have cost anywhere near that.

    • Cluster on 19/07/2023 - 10:27
      +1

      They'll roll out the usual excuses: COVID (that one will be used for many more years), tradies, and inflation.

    • jv on 19/07/2023 - 10:29
      +3

      That's because he just made up a number, like he's been doing all along with all his projects…

      When pressed about how he got the number, he just deflects and never answers the question.

      • Protractor on 20/07/2023 - 09:55
        -1

        I heard the Pope is thinking of beatifying him soon. This games decision has boosted every poll too. I don't think he's scared of cookers and a few young Lib neo nazis not voting for him.

    • Mozzmanau on 20/07/2023 - 00:22

      Because he's LYING!!!!!

  • garygaz on 19/07/2023 - 10:28
    +5

    Some of the comments here are truly delusional. The state, under its own volition, agreed to host this tournament.

    The state mismanaged its own finances such that they can’t afford to meet their previous obligations

    Now the state will be up for huge termination of contract payments and will have nothing to show for it

    And people are seriously patting Dan Andrews on the back for this stuff up of international proportions?

    Gobsmacking. This is an international embarrassment. We are not joining good company on countries who have bailed on their hosting duties for an international sports tournament

    • jv on 19/07/2023 - 10:30
      +4

      And people are seriously patting Dan Andrews on the back for this stuff up

      It is just proof that Stockholm syndrome is real.

    • jv on 19/07/2023 - 10:31
      +2

      This is an international embarrassment

      Large sporting bodies will definitely think twice before hosting or extending events in Victoria whilst Dan is still in power.

      This will be a great opportunity for other states to poach our marquee events.

    • p1 ama on 19/07/2023 - 12:56
      +1

      Some of the comments here are truly delusional.

      Most of the comments here support no longer holding the games. Are you suggesting that we continue to hold the games?

      And people are seriously patting Dan Andrews on the back for this stuff up of international proportions?

      It was supported by both political parties at the time. If it wasn't Andrews, then it would have been Matthew Guy. Obviously this should have never been signed, the Commonwealth Games are irrelevant and it's silly to be spending money on it, however, it's hardly an "Andrews only" issue.

      Gobsmacking. This is an international embarrassment. We are not joining good company on countries who have bailed on their hosting duties for an international sports tournament

      Good. Better that we bail. Nobody will want to host it.

      Now the state will be up for huge termination of contract payments and will have nothing to show for it

      Just don't pay it, what are they going to do? Sue the state of Victoria? Just cut all elite sports funding if that's the case and pull out any Australian representation at any future Commonwealth Games. All of these international sporting bodies, including FIFA, the IOC, and CGF are a bunch of corrupt goons making backroom deals and extorting people around the world to line their own coffers.

      • Danstar on 20/07/2023 - 12:31

        however, it's hardly an "Andrews only" issue.

        He is the only one who had the power to approve it. The opposition had no real say; and they would've been just as dumb to approve it if they were in power.

    • Mozzmanau on 20/07/2023 - 00:23

      Sums up Dan tards for you doesn't it.

    • Protractor on 20/07/2023 - 09:56
      -1

      "Some of the comments here are truly delusional" Look inwardly

  • jv on 19/07/2023 - 10:40
    +1

    "Sadleir said Commonwealth Games Australia chief executive Craig Phillips was correct in his statement earlier on Tuesday that Victoria had wilfully ignored recommendations that could have reduced costs, such as using existing facilities in Melbourne."

    https://www.theage.com.au/world/europe/devastating-andrews-g…

    How about Dan pays for this stuff up and embarrassment out of his own pocket for a change. Or will he just give himself another pay rise instead?

  • gakko on 19/07/2023 - 11:04

    Plans made when money was cheap. Now, inflation going crazy, debt high, state income lower, so plans were changed. Sensible decision.

    • jv on 19/07/2023 - 12:03

      Plans made when money was cheap

      You mean when false promises for regional votes was cheap…

    • jv on 19/07/2023 - 12:03

      Now, inflation going crazy,

      It hasn't gone up 300% in the last year.

      • gakko on 19/07/2023 - 13:07

        Whats your point?

        • pharkurnell on 19/07/2023 - 13:09
          +2

          There usually isnt one.. LMAO

          Dan stole his wowwy pop when he was a kid.

    • jv on 19/07/2023 - 12:04

      state income lower,

      That is a lie.

      Inflation increases government revenue through taxes for higher prices.

      • gakko on 19/07/2023 - 13:07

        Not state government.

        • jv on 19/07/2023 - 17:27

          Where do you think GST goes???

        • BobLim on 19/07/2023 - 20:58

          Don't let facts get in the way hey?

          • gakko on 20/07/2023 - 08:41

            @BobLim: How is that facts? JV has a point about gst but Vic gets a shit share of that. Heaps of discretionary state government income comes from stamp duty and house sales are down. I thought maybe you were linking to actual government revenue. Maybe check that

            • BobLim on 20/07/2023 - 09:22

              @gakko: You'll find that in the link under "land transfer duty" which as you can see had indeed deceased a bit along with gambling taxes, but more than offset by increases in other measures for the overall highest quarter it's ever been.

              Your claim

              state income lower

              Is clearly wrong, unless you're suggesting the state treasury is lying?

              • gakko on 20/07/2023 - 21:27

                @BobLim: Nah happy to accept it's higher. What's the recent imperative for savings measures then? If income is higher then servicing debt must be much higher such that the income rise doesn't offset it. Swap income for budget position being (profanity) then. Same outcome. Plans need to change. The fact that the government should not have got themselves in this position doesn't mean they shouldn't be trying to get out of it.

                • BobLim on 20/07/2023 - 21:36

                  @gakko: The debt and interest is neither sudden nor unexpected though - a shock decrease in property transactions might be a reasonable explanation for a hole in the budget.

                  I'd suggest the Andrews govt has suddenly decided that now is the time to cut back, just like they decided to spend up big on the Games, North East Link, Airport Rail, Westgate Tunnel, Suburban Rail Loop (hopefully this one's next on the chopping block), Geelong line upgrades, and LX removals. Your guess is as good as mine as to what, if anything, has changed since those decisions were made. Maybe the polls suggest this is the right move?

                  I would think the average rational person would've been able to see that spending much more than you're bringing in is unsustainable from the start, and can't continue indefinitely.

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