“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 prior to this decision being reached by the government,” the committee said.

Andrews said on Tuesday the decision to scrap the Games was easy to make,after updated estimates pointed to the sporting event costing the state more than $6 billion,more than double the original figure.

The Games were to be held in March 2026 across five regional centres:Geelong,Bendigo,Ballarat,Gippsland and Shepparton.

Nine and Ten were not in the running to broadcast the event.

Commonwealth Games Australia confirmed to this masthead that no broadcast deal has been signed yet.

When asked why several events – or the entire Games – weren’t shifted to Melbourne,Andrews said those alternatives were canvassed.

“We have looked at every conceivable option. All of them are far in excess of the $2.6 billion that’s been budgeted,so all of them represent more cost than there is benefit,” he said.

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