Premier Daniel Andrews has been attacked for choosing not to attend a Senate inquiry into the cancelled Commonwealth Games, with federal Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie accusing him of a culture of secrecy.

The federal Senate inquiry is under way in Melbourne and has begun to hear from Commonwealth Games Australia. Former state government minister Martin Pakula is also due to appear, as are Ernst & Young consultants, who participated in the original business case.

McKenzie said Queensland’s Palaszczuk government had allowed officials and members of the 2032 Olympic Organising Committee to attend the same inquiry, which is also probing Australia’s preparations for the major event.

But Andrews declined the invitation to attend the Melbourne hearings, and also told the committee that no current ministers or officials from his government would attend.

“Daniel Andrews has thrown an invisibility cloak over his officials, his ministers, and this whole decision-making process within the Victorian government has been shrouded in secrecy,” McKenzie told ABC Radio National.

“If you’ve got nothing to hide, then why all the secrecy? Part of the privilege and honour and responsibility of being a minister, or being a premier, is to be able to subject yourself to accountability, and my grave concern is the culture of secrecy that exists here in Victoria.

“It is endemic.”

McKenzie said there was a lot to learn, and serious questions needed to be answered about Victoria’s Commonwealth Games cancellation.