Victoria’s scrapped 2026 Commonwealth Games cost $589m in ‘significant waste of taxpayer money’, auditor-general says

Report criticises government agencies for not working together and says the estimated $6.9bn cost of the event was ‘overstated’

• Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

The scrapped 2026 Commonwealth Games have cost Victoria more than $589m, the state’s auditor-general says, in a report that calls the project a “waste of taxpayer money” with “no discernible benefit”.

The scathing report, tabled in state parliament on Wednesday, concluded the waste could have been avoided if government agencies had worked together to give “frank and full advice” to the government before it decided to host the games.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup