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

An upper house inquiry into the cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Victoria has heard that an estimate the event would cost $2.5bn was largely based on ‘desktop research’. Photograph: Carly Earl/The Guardian

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 a Victorian 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”.