Perth and Brisbane have both announced plans to launch a bid but Kevin Rudd's Government are refusing to back it because they are already committed to supporting Australia's efforts to host the football World Cup for the first time.

 

Australia's Commonwealth Games Association (ACGA) chief executive Perry Crosswhite said that they would not bid without the backing of the Government.

 

He said: "We had been considering a bid but it is on hold now because we didn't get the support of the Federal Government because of their commitment to the 2018 World Cup bid.

 

"If they don't endorse the bid, the bid can't go ahead.

 

"It is one of the protocols of the Commonwealth Games Association."

 

A spokesman for Sports Minister Kate Ellis confirmed that the Government will not back an Australian bid.

 

He said: "We have told them we do not anticipate significant commonwealth funding for an attempt to host the Commonwealth Games given the Government's pre-existing commitment to the FIFA World Cup and the current economic climate."

 

The Government are set to invest A$80 million (£35.1 million) in Australia's bid to host the World Cup, where they will be up against England and several other countries, expected to include Russia, China, the United States and Qatar.

 

Abuja, the Nigerian capital that lost out on the chance to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games, has already declared its intention to bid for 2018 while candidates are also expected to emerge from Durban and New Zealand.

 

A decision is due in 2011.

 

Australia last staged the Commonwealth Games at Melbourne in 2006.