Premier Jacinta Allan needs to explain to Victorian taxpayers why the Government has paid Tennis Australia more than $100 million in secret deals.
Documents released to the Opposition under Freedom of Information (FOI) have revealed the Allan Government paid Tennis Australia $63 million in September 2022 – two months before the Victorian election – to ensure it remained solvent after COVID-19.
It follows recent revelations that the Government also wiped a $43 million loan to Tennis Australia during the pandemic as the sporting body went on to post a $62 million surplus in 2023.
Shadow Minister for Tourism, Sport and Events Sam Groth said: “We support the Australian Open which delivers significant tourism and economic benefits for Victoria.
“But there seems to have been no accountability and transparency for more than $100 million of taxpayers’ money spent by the Allan Government. Major events must deliver value for money and a return on investment.
“We know Jacinta Allan can’t manage money but Labor needs to explain why it spent more than $100 million of taxpayers’ money in secret deals to bail out what is a commercially successful event.”
