Ben Carroll releases terms of reference for inquiry that will include examining allegations of CFMEU corruption on state government building sites

MELBOURNE, VIC. — The Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) tunnel boring machine (TBM) ‘Alice’ is now tunnelling from Burwood to Glen Waverley. The post Burwood-Waverley Loop works start appeared first on VicNews.

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The Royal Commission into the Integrity of Major Public and Civil Infrastructure Construction Projects, commonly referred to as the 'Big Build' scandal, commenced its first public hearing on September 24, 2026, at Melbourne's Magistrates Court. The hearing, held in a modest courtroom with minimal media presence, marked the formal beginning of what many political observers believe could signal the end of nearly 25 years of Labor Party dominance in Victoria. The commission was established to investigate allegations of widespread criminal infiltration into the government's $150 billion Big Build infrastructure program, including claims of $15 billion in waste due to criminal activity. Former Premier Jacinta Allan, who refused to call the commission during her tenure, has already lost her position as a result of the scandal, while current Premier Ben Carroll, who initiated the commission as his first act in office, faces significant political challenges ahead of the November state election. The opening session featured Counsel Assisting Chris Young presenting evidence of human impacts, including an Indigenous-owned business allegedly threatened with violence and banned from worksites, workers dismissed for union membership, and a woman fired for reporting a workplace incident involving a recently released prisoner. The commission also examined ministerial briefing notes from June 2023 that detailed 'intimidatory tactics' by union officials and 'potential criminal elements' at worksites, which Allan reportedly did not acknowledge. While the commission aims to focus on legislative frameworks that may have enabled corruption rather than targeting unions, the political fallout for the Labor government is already evident. The commission's work will likely intensify as it examines union leaders, politicians, and public servants in upcoming hearings, with the November 28 state election looming as a critical political deadline. The hearing demonstrated the commission's seriousness through its formal reading of the letters patent establishing the inquiry, with Commissioner Chris Kourakis emphasizing the 'breadth and depth and importance' of the investigation. Despite claims that the commission will not be influenced by the upcoming election, political analysts suggest the opposite is likely to occur, with the scandal potentially overshadowing Labor's campaign efforts.

When the former CFMEU boss he decries a lack of political accountability in the union construction scandal, he’s correct.