‘Desktop research’: consultants had six weeks to pull together Victoria’s Commonwealth Games business case

Representatives from three consultancy firms tell inquiry they were unable to inspect venues or speak to key stakeholders

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Consultants tasked with putting together a business case for the 2026 Commonwealth Games were unable to inspect any venues or speak to key stakeholders due to “strict confidentiality requirements” and a “very tight” deadline.

Representatives from consultancy firms Ernst & Young (EY), DHW Ludus and MI Associates on Tuesday told an upper house inquiry into the 2026 Commonwealth Games’ cancellation their business case, which estimated the event would cost $2.5bn to run, was largely based on “desktop research”.

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