‘The Aussie version of Nicola Sturgeon has wrecked the Commonwealth Games’

The Labour Premier of the Australian state of Victoria, Daniel Andrews – the Aussie version of Nicola Sturgeon (when she was an annoying Scottish First Minister) – has struck again, cancelling the 2026 Commonwealth Games with eight hours notice. Victorians are horrified, Australians enraged. The politician who signed Victoria up to Communist China’s Belt and Road Initiative, inflicted the world’s longest Covid lockdown, 263 days, on the people of Melbourne, and supports every woke cause in existence, has now potentially destroyed the Commonwealth Games. The Commonwealth Games, which have only been held outside Britain or Australia once since 1998, have been held every four years since 1930. They weren’t held in 1942 and 1946 because of World War Two, when what became our Commonwealth of Nations defended the world from Nazism. ‘By Andrews’ outrageous behaviour, he has trashed Australia’s reputation’ (Image: Getty) This family of nations that voluntarily recognise the King as Head of the Commonwealth, celebrate that family through sport, every four years. For these Games to disappear during the initial years of the new King’s reign would be a catastrophe. I sincerely hope the British government can fix this mess and by so doing, strengthen the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Games are important for athletes too. For sports like Netball, the Commonwealth Games along with the World Cup, is the pinnacle of that sport. For athletes from small states in the Caribbean and the Pacific these Games provide an extraordinary opportunity, now potentially destroyed by a profligate and dictatorial Labour government on the south coast of Australia led by Premier Daniel Andrews. Known as Dictator Dan, Andrews is one of the most divisive politicians in Australian history. During the pandemic, Andrews used the police to shoot anti-lockdown protesters in the back with rubber bullets, arrest a young pregnant mother at home in front of her children for organising an anti-lockdown protest, whilst allowing a Black Lives Matter protest to proceed, despite it being unlawful during the pandemic. Earlier this week, a delegation travelled from Melbourne to London to inform the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) that Victoria was cancelling its contract with the CGF to host the 2026 Games. Discussions will continue in London, but the CGF are quite rightly furious, saying in a statement; ‘we are disappointed that we were only given eight hours’ notice and that no consideration was given to discussing the situation to jointly find solutions.’ Commonwealth Games Australia boss Craig Phillips said Daniel Andrews’ decision was ‘absolutely embarrassing’ and ‘beyond disappointing.’ The CGF now has virtually no time at all to find a new host for the Games. The Scottish government has indicated its potential interest in hosting the Games. The irony that the Commonwealth Games could be rescued by, of all people, Hamza Yousaf because a British-loathing, republic-supporting Labour leader in Australia claims he couldn’t afford it, shouldn’t be lost on anyone. Daniel Andrews (Image: Getty) Daniel Andrews and his minions are telling anyone who will listen, both in London and Australia, that the cost to the Victorian taxpayer of hosting the Games has ballooned from £1.4bn (A$2.6 Billion) to £3.13 Billion (A$6 Billion) and is too expensive and not economically viable. But this an absurd suggestion as the 2024 Paris Olympics, an event that dwarfs the Commonwealth Games, will cost £2.6 Billion. The honest answer is that, typically for the Labour Party either in Australia or the UK, they’ve bankrupted the state of Victoria. Labour could never afford the Commonwealth Games and now face the very real prospect of hundreds of millions of pounds in penalties for reneging on this contract. Be in no doubt, this decision by the state Government of Victoria has tarnished Australia’s reputation. This cancellation is a shocking look for a country with a proud sporting history, and a proud legacy in hosting successful sporting events – currently jointly hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup and will host the Rugby World Cup in 2027 and the Olympics in 2032. By Andrews’ outrageous behaviour, he has trashed Australia’s reputation. Tim Smith is former MP for Kew in the Parliament of Victoria, Australia