Games cash ‘too late’

THE federal government’s last-minute boost in Commonwealth Games funding has been slammed as too little too late by Gold Coast Acting Mayor Donna Gates.

Almost $50 million was allocated to the Games in Tuesday night’s Federal Budget, mostly for security and safety during the event.

Cr Gates said the funding was too late.

“We would have liked to have seen funding for the Commonwealth Games which actually made a difference to the ratepayers of the city who have stumped up $250 million,” she said.

Cr Gates said the Games funding had not kept pace with inflation when compared with the funding provided to the Melbourne Games.