The WA government has described a call by Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas for Perth to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games as a "brain fart" that would cost the state "billions". On Thursday the state's daily newspaper reported Mr Zempilas had called on the government to launch a late bid to host the games. It comes amid an exciting time for WA athletics, after Gout Gout, Lachlan Kennedy, Jessica Hull and Peter Bol drew huge crowds over the weekend at the Australian Athletics Championships, which was held in Perth. "Do WA taxpayers want to spend more than $2 billion, which is half of the health infrastructure budget, on one event in WA?" said Acting Sports Minister John Carey. "Basil is always after the headline, the quick grab, but he doesn’t think about the implications for WA taxpayers." Mr Zempilas' spokesperson said he was unavailable for comment this morning. Mr Zempilas also mounted a public campaign for Perth to host the Commonwealth Games in 2023 in his capacity as Perth Lord Mayor. At that time, Victoria withdrew from hosting the 2026 games due to forecast expense. Priorities wrong: Carey Mr Carey said it was reasonable to predict that hosting the event would cost the state "billions" because it was initially budgeted to cost the Victorian government $2.6 billion, before "massive over-runs" led the event being relocated to Glasgow. "We only have to look at the cost in other states to realise that for a one- off event at a time when there are construction challenges, that the money is better spent on health and housing when we are talking about that kind of amount." Mr Carey defended his government's decision to spend taxpayers' money on hosting UFC and international soccer games, as well as a controversial race track at Burswood, while pursuing a Perth rugby league team. "The magnitude of this cost in comparison to everything else you have mentioned is extraordinary," Mr Carey said. "I respect there are people who do not support [the racetrack] but this was an early election commitment. "People had an opportunity to reject that proposal as part of the overall government mandate." Seven Commonwealth nations and territories have expressed interest in hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2030 or 2034. India, Nigeria and Canada have already gone public with their goal to host the event in 2030, while New Zealand is one of two nations interested in hosting the 2034 event. The host of the 2030 Games is expected to be finalised in November.