1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:03,560 Speaker 1: My name is Lily Maddon and I'm a proud Arunda 2 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: Bunjelung Calcotin woman from Gadigl Country. The Daily oz acknowledges 3 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:10,880 Speaker 1: that this podcast is recorded on the lands of the 4 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: Gadighl people and pays respect to all Aboriginal and Torres 5 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 1: Strait Island and nations. We pay our respects to the 6 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 1: first peoples of these countries, both past and present. 7 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 2: Good morning and welcome to the Daily os. It's Wednesday, 8 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 2: the nineteenth of July. I'm Zara Seidler, I'm Ninakopole. Only 9 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 2: last year, Victoria was named as the next destination for 10 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:37,879 Speaker 2: the Commonwealth Games. 11 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:42,200 Speaker 3: Twenty twenty six Commonwealth Games has been awarded to Victoria. 12 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 2: There were reports that the Commonwealth Games organizers were struggling 13 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:50,200 Speaker 2: to find anyone even willing to host the event until 14 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 2: Victoria stepped. 15 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 1: To Victoria was approached when no other Commonwealth country put 16 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 1: their hand up, most citing the prohibitive cost of hosting. 17 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 2: So why has Victoria pulled out now and what will 18 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 2: the fallout be? We'll let you know in today's deep dive. 19 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 2: But first me now, what is happening over in Wa. 20 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:11,920 Speaker 3: The Australian space agency says it's working to identify the 21 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 3: origins of a dome that washed up in a West 22 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 3: Australian beach. The meter's long metal object was found two 23 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 3: hundred and fifty kilometers north of Perth and could be 24 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 3: part of a foreign launched rocket. An investigation is ongoing, 25 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 3: but onlookers have been asked to stay away from the dome. 26 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 2: The Bureau of Meteorology has decided to hold off on 27 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 2: calling an El Nino weather event here in Australia, opting 28 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 2: to maintain the current alert status instead. That's despite the 29 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 2: World Meteorological Organization's recent declaration of an El Nino going 30 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 2: off past alerts. The BOMB says there's around a seventy 31 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 2: percent chance of an El Ninia weather event developing. 32 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 3: In some more weather news, Europe's heat wave crisis is continuing, 33 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 3: with an extreme health risk alert issued in sixteen Italian cities. 34 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 3: The Acropolis in Athens was on the weekend due to 35 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 3: safety concerns. Extreme temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere are expected 36 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 3: to continue. And some good. 37 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 2: News which I think we need today, A small plant 38 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 2: species believe to have gone extinct over sixty years ago 39 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 2: has been found. The bearded flat sedge. It's quite the names. 40 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:22,960 Speaker 2: The bearded flat sedge was rediscovered in recently flooded riverland 41 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 2: in northwest Victoria. Plans are being made to ensure the 42 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 2: plant survival for years to come. Nina. Every morning the 43 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 2: TVA team stands around and we do an editorial meeting 44 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 2: where our journalists pitch what stories they're gonna cover that 45 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:41,079 Speaker 2: day or what they want to cover. 46 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:43,359 Speaker 3: Coffee in hands, generally coffee. 47 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 2: In hand, you're usually on your second, and then we 48 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 2: go through what the day looks like. Yesterday, as we 49 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 2: were finishing up, a big story broke and it was 50 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:55,359 Speaker 2: about the twenty twenty six Commonwealth Games, the story being 51 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 2: that Victoria will not go ahead with hosting it due 52 00:02:58,720 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 2: to funding issues. 53 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:03,079 Speaker 3: I love moments in the TDA office where everyone stops 54 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 3: and it's go team because the story's breaking. 55 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 2: And this is one of those moments, all hands on deck. 56 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 3: Before we get to the details of what actually went down. 57 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 3: What do we need to know about the Commonwealth Games 58 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 3: and what they actually are. 59 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, I feel like you might not keep up with 60 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 2: the Commonwealth Games as a general sentiment, but as the 61 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 2: name would suggest, only Commonwealth nations and their territories are 62 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 2: eligible to participate in the Commonwealth Games. So we're thinking 63 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:31,920 Speaker 2: here about mostly former colonies of the British Empire. The 64 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:35,560 Speaker 2: Commonwealth Games happen once every four years, and the last 65 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 2: one was hosted by Birmingham in England in twenty twenty two, 66 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 2: and as we're talking about today, the next Games were 67 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 2: due to be held in Victoria in twenty twenty six. 68 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 2: Last year, the Victorian government was approached by organizers to 69 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 2: host the next Commonwealth Games, and that was following reports 70 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 2: that no other city had submitted a bid at the time. 71 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 2: I remember us hearing from Victorian pre me are Daniel Andrews, 72 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 2: who said that he thought that submitting a bid for 73 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 2: these games and hosting them would be worth it. 74 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 4: It'll cost a substantial amount, let's not let's not be 75 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 4: in any doubt about that. But I don't see it 76 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 4: as a cost. I see it as a profound investment 77 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:16,760 Speaker 4: in showcasing to the world the best part of regional Australia. 78 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:19,919 Speaker 3: So we've gone from Daniel Andrews standing up and saying 79 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 3: this is a good investment last year it's worth it, 80 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 3: to now saying something are very different. What's he saying now? 81 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:29,799 Speaker 2: Yeah, So a bit of a change of tact from 82 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 2: the Victorian premiere. At a press conference yesterday, he said 83 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 2: the cost of the games was expected to blow out 84 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 2: to triple the amount of the allocated budget. The government 85 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 2: had initially allocated two point six billion dollars to fund 86 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 2: the games. 87 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 3: Seems like a lot of money if you. 88 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:49,040 Speaker 2: Seem like a lot of again, I think if you're 89 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:51,760 Speaker 2: not in that world and you don't understand how, you know, 90 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 2: what infrastructure is needed, what needs to actually go into 91 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:57,160 Speaker 2: the you know, I just watch it, I'm like, this 92 00:04:57,200 --> 00:04:57,799 Speaker 2: looks great. 93 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 3: Well, my mind glazes over. After a million, it has 94 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 3: very little manage. We're into billion territory. 95 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 2: But the government had allocated that two point six billion 96 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 2: dollars and the games were meant to be hosted in 97 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 2: regional centers across the state. So the idea being that 98 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 2: it was meant to be this really big cash injection 99 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:18,680 Speaker 2: and a tourism injection into those regional centers. But then 100 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 2: Daniel Andrews came out yesterday and said that actually it 101 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:25,160 Speaker 2: was closer to this six to seven billion dollar mark 102 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:28,040 Speaker 2: and that that was too much to fund the event. 103 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 4: I will not take money out of hospitals and schools 104 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 4: in order to fund an event that is three times 105 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 4: the costs as estimated and budgeted for last year. 106 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 2: Andrew said that the Victorian government had informed the Commonwealth 107 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:45,839 Speaker 2: Games authorities about their decision and that amicable and productive 108 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:46,920 Speaker 2: meetings had occurred. 109 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:50,919 Speaker 3: Amicable and productive sounds very nice, but how did the 110 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 3: organizers actually response to this news? 111 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 2: Yes, so Coverwealth Games Australia CEO Craig Phillips held a 112 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:01,919 Speaker 2: presser a press conference following the premier's announcement, and he 113 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:06,279 Speaker 2: said the announcement from Victoria was beyond disappointing, so not 114 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 2: mincing words there. 115 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:10,239 Speaker 5: The stated costs overruns, in our opinion are a gross 116 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:13,919 Speaker 5: exaggeration and not reflective of the operational costs presented to 117 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 5: the twenty twenty six Organizing a Committee board as recently as 118 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:18,239 Speaker 5: June this year. 119 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 2: He also said that this would be disappointing to athletes 120 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 2: who were preparing for the Games, and also made the 121 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:26,799 Speaker 2: point that it was damaging to the state's reputation. 122 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 5: Victorian government has jeopardized Melbourne and Victoria's standing as a 123 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:32,160 Speaker 5: sporting capital. 124 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:32,360 Speaker 4: Of the world. 125 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:35,279 Speaker 3: So it was a pretty scathing response. But we're also 126 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:38,039 Speaker 3: hearing two different stories. We're having Daniel Andrews saying that 127 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 3: this is going to cost six or seven billion dollars, 128 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:42,719 Speaker 3: and now the CEO of the Commonwealth Games are saying 129 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:43,600 Speaker 3: that doesn't. 130 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 2: Make sense and that it's exaggerated. 131 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 3: So what's actually going on here? 132 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:50,839 Speaker 2: I mean, it's difficult to know. All we have access 133 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 2: to is what is publicly available. But I guess the 134 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 2: point to make here is that the decision hasn't come 135 00:06:57,120 --> 00:06:59,840 Speaker 2: from nowhere. I think if you consider it in the 136 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 2: broader economic context of how Victoria's economy is going right now, 137 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 2: the Victorian government is facing significant financial strain. It has 138 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 2: one hundred billion dollars in debt. The government was actually 139 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 2: forced to make several cuts in its May budget. The 140 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 2: Andrews government has done what is usually done when there 141 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 2: are high levels of debt. It's tried to raise taxes 142 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 2: to fill the gap. But even with those budget savings measures, 143 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 2: the government is still facing growing debt, with predictions showing 144 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 2: that debt will actually grow from one hundred and thirty 145 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 2: five billion dollars next year to one hundred and seventy 146 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 2: one billion dollars in the twenty twenty six twenty seven 147 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:38,120 Speaker 2: financial year. 148 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 3: So that's what we know from Victoria's state budget that 149 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 3: they released in May. But we also know that they 150 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 3: set money aside for these games around the two billion mark, which, 151 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 3: as we've discussed, still seems like a lot of money. 152 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 3: So what happens with that now? 153 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 2: So instead of spending the two point six billion to 154 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 2: host the games that, as you rightly pointed out, was 155 00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 2: put aside in the budget, Daniel Andrews said that the 156 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 2: government will instead commit to a two billion dollar package 157 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 2: to support the regions. And remember, the Games were meant 158 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 2: to be held in the region, so they were expecting 159 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:10,800 Speaker 2: some sort of injection of exactly some sort of benefit. 160 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 2: Funding will go towards sporting venues, a regional tourism fund, 161 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 2: and it will also go towards a boost to social 162 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:22,400 Speaker 2: and affordable housing. The Premier set at least thirteen hundred 163 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 2: new homes will be constructed across regional Victoria with that 164 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:28,560 Speaker 2: money that was meant to be spent on the Commonwealth Games. 165 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:32,439 Speaker 4: That is, in many respects the biggest and best lasting 166 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 4: legacy that we can leave somewhere to leave and a. 167 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:39,200 Speaker 5: Market that has more supply for those who need it. 168 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 3: Where does all of this leave us now are the 169 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:44,079 Speaker 3: Games still going to go ahead or does this mean 170 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:45,680 Speaker 3: that they're all off for twenty twenty six. 171 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:47,840 Speaker 2: I mean it's a good question, and I imagine if 172 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 2: you were an athlete that had been working towards knowing 173 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 2: that it was happening in Victoria and that everything was set, 174 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 2: I think the news yesterday would have been really alarming. 175 00:08:57,559 --> 00:09:01,080 Speaker 2: So what we do know is that negotiations to terminate 176 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 2: the Victorian government's contract unactually complete yet, and Commonwealth Games 177 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 2: Australia CEO Craig Phillips said that they are working on 178 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 2: finding a new location. Nina, you were sitting very close 179 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 2: to your computer yesterday when Chrismins announced the press conference 180 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 2: because you thought he was going to put his hand 181 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 2: up say that the sunny state of New South Wales 182 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 2: would be hosting it. I was just read you are wrong, 183 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 2: You're wrong. Needless to say, New South Wales. Chrismins came 184 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:33,560 Speaker 2: out yesterday and said categorically that will not be happening, 185 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 2: just despite me exactly he knew you were sitting there 186 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 2: on the edge of your seat. But I think that's 187 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:41,959 Speaker 2: been the general sentiment across the country. We have seen 188 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 2: that no state premier has really put up their hand 189 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 2: and said that they want to do it, citing those 190 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:51,440 Speaker 2: same concerns around the kind of financial commitment that is needed. 191 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 2: So if the Games do move forward, it will likely 192 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 2: have to happen outside of Australia. 193 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:01,600 Speaker 3: This was really quite the news story. It was unfolding 194 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 3: as we watched, and there's all of these different parties 195 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:05,959 Speaker 3: that have stakes in it. What do you think we 196 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:09,440 Speaker 3: should be taking away about where Victoria is as a 197 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:12,479 Speaker 3: state after seeing all of this unfold. 198 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 2: I think it's interesting. I think that it tells an 199 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 2: interesting story about the state of the budget in Victoria. 200 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:24,960 Speaker 2: And I think that typical budgets that we see every 201 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:28,720 Speaker 2: single year from state and federal governments are usually dressed 202 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 2: up to only show us what we want to know, 203 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:33,720 Speaker 2: and that a decision like this actually exposes a whole 204 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:38,000 Speaker 2: lot more. If anything, I think that there's been quite 205 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 2: a significant reputational risk that now faces not just the 206 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 2: Victorian government but also the Australian government. I think that 207 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 2: you know, we're meant to be hosting the Olympics in 208 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 2: twenty thirty two in Queensland. Will there be doubt cast 209 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 2: on our ability to muster up the funds to create 210 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 2: the infrastructure for that to happen. So I think that 211 00:10:56,920 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 2: there will be questions asked and that this decision will 212 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:04,559 Speaker 2: have ramifications beyond those felt by the athletes and those organizers. 213 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 3: Thanks for listening to this episode of The Daily OS. 214 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:13,560 Speaker 3: If you're listening to this on Spotify, there is a 215 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:16,200 Speaker 3: little question box in the app where you can send 216 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 3: us a message what you liked about the episode, something 217 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 3: you learned. I read them every morning and it's the 218 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 3: highlight of my day. Sam and Zara will be back 219 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:33,319 Speaker 3: again tomorrow. Have an awesome day.