Jacinta Allan’s $600 million Commonwealth Games debacle continues to deepen with fresh revelations a senior public servant was instructed to keep the engagement of lawyers to cancel the event a secret.
The secretary of the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR), Tim Ada, told a parliamentary hearing today that he was instructed by the head of the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC), Jeremi Moule, not to inform then Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy, Harriet Shing, that lawyers had been engaged to pull out of the Games on June 19.
This was five days after Ms Allan, who was then Minister For Commonwealth Games Delivery, was told on June 14 that the Games could be cancelled. Ms Shing said she wasn’t told till June 22.
Shadow Minister for Tourism, Sport and Events, Sam Groth, said: “Jacinta Allan must explain why a senior public servant needed to keep the engagement of lawyers to cancel the Commonwealth Games a secret from his Minister.
“It raises new questions about what Labor has tried to cover up and makes it even more crucial for the Premier to stop hiding and front up to the inquiry and be honest with Victorians about what happened.”
