The Royal Commission into the Integrity of Major Public and Civil Infrastructure Construction Projects in Victoria holds its first public hearings from November 9, examining allegations of corruption, criminal conduct and serious misconduct on the state’s $100 billion Big Build program.
The royal commission was called after allegations of criminal infiltration of the CFMEU construction union and Victoria’s Big Build were aired by Nine newspapers in 2024. That reporting led to the federal government placing parts of the union into administration in August 2024. The union’s administrators tasked Geoffrey Watson SC to report on the CFMEU’s operations under former boss John Setka. Watson found the union in Victoria had “collapsed into a squalid mess” and suggested Victorian taxpayers had lost as much as $15 billion to organised crime on Big Build projects. He described widespread corruption “of a very organised kind, which involved not only financial crimes against the people of Victoria but also sites being used as drug dealing points.”
Despite the report, the Victorian government was slow to call a royal commission. Former premier Jacinta Allan steadfastly refused to do so despite growing calls from across the political spectrum. Her ousting and the ascension of Ben Carroll to the top job marked a major shift. Carroll called a royal commission within hours of his election.
The terms of reference direct the commission to inquire into: the extent to which corruption, criminal conduct or serious misconduct has occurred on or in relation to major public and civil infrastructure projects; whether government and delivery authorities had proper oversight; the causes and conditions that led to any corruption or misconduct; how contracted firms, government, regulators and police responded to reports of corruption; measures to prevent future corruption; and ways to recoup public funds lost to corruption and misconduct.
The first block of public hearings runs from November 9 to November 20 at Collingwood, with proceedings livestreamed. A second block will be held before the end of the year, with the commission continuing its work through the November 28 state election. The commission has already held closed hearings.
Witnesses are expected to include CFMEU members, public servants at the Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority, ministerial staff, and workers at major contracting companies involved with Big Build projects. There is a chance former premiers Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan could be called. In August, Carroll said “anyone and everyone can be called” and that it would be up to the commissioner to determine who and what was relevant to its inquiries. CFMEU administrator Michael Crosby said “developers, head contractors, subcontractors, labour hire operators and anyone else who had profited from unlawful or unethical behaviour” should be called if the royal commission was serious about uncovering the truth.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The commission will investigate allegations of up to $15 billion in taxpayer money lost to organised crime, potentially paving the way for recovery.
- It will examine whether government oversight failed during a massive infrastructure program that underpins Victoria’s economy.
- The findings could reshape the state’s construction industry, union governance, and the integrity of future public works.
Background
The Big Build is a multi-decade, $100 billion program of new roads, railway stations and tunnels. Allegations of corruption and criminal infiltration in the CFMEU and at construction sites were first reported in 2024, leading to federal administration of the union and a report by Geoffrey Watson SC.
Key Perspectives
Ben Carroll (Victorian Premier): Called a royal commission within hours of his election, saying “anyone and everyone can be called.”
Jacinta Allan (former Premier): Steadfastly refused to call a royal commission despite widespread calls.
Geoffrey Watson SC: Found the CFMEU had collapsed into a “squalid mess” and that organised crime cost taxpayers up to $15 billion.
Michael Crosby (CFMEU administrator): Argued that developers, head contractors, and others who profited from unlawful behaviour should be called if the commission is serious.
What to Watch
- First public hearings from November 9 to 20, where early evidence will shape the inquiry’s direction.
- Whether former premiers Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan are called as witnesses.
- The commission’s work continues through the November 28 state election and may influence the campaign.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
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- SupportedVictoria’s construction corruption royal commission opens hearings.Just In: “The first block of public hearings begins on November 9 and runs until November 20.”
- SupportedThe inquiry will examine allegations of corruption and criminal infiltration, and government oversight, on the $100 billion Big Build.Just In: “The Victorian government's Big Build is a multi-decade, $100 billion construction project”
- SupportedNine newspapers aired allegations about the CFMEU and the Big Build in 2024, and the reporting led to parts of the union being placed into administration in August 2024.Just In: “Allegations of corruption and the criminal infiltration of the CFMEU construction union and Victoria's Big Build were first aired by Nine newspapers in 2024. [...] The reporting led to the federal government placing parts of the union into administration in August 2024.”
- SupportedGeoffrey Watson suggested Victorian taxpayers had lost as much as $15 billion to organised crime on Big Build projects.Just In: “Mr Watson found the union in Victoria had "collapsed into a squalid mess" and suggested Victorian taxpayers had lost as much as $15 billion to organised crime on Big Build projects.”
- Partly supportedWatson described corruption as “of a very organised kind, which involved not only financial crimes against the people of Victoria but also sites being used as drug dealing points.”Just In: “In Victoria, he found widespread corruption "of a very organised kind, which involved not only financial crimes against the people of Victoria in terms of what was going on there, but also sites being used as drug dealing points".”
- SupportedThe Victorian government was slow to call a royal commission, and Jacinta Allan steadfastly refused to do so despite calls from across the political spectrum.Just In: “The topic of a royal commission seemingly split the Victorian government earlier this year, with former premier Jacinta Allan steadfastly refusing to call one despite growing calls from across the political spectrum.”
- SupportedBen Carroll called a royal commission within hours of his election as premier.Just In: “Her ousting as leader and the ascension of Ben Carroll to the top job marked a major shift, with the new premier immediately calling for a royal commission within hours of his election.”
- SupportedThe commission’s terms include investigating the extent of corruption or misconduct, government oversight, causes, responses to reports, prevention and recovery of public funds.Just In: “This royal commission will inquire into: the extent to which corruption, criminal conduct or serious misconduct has occurred on or in relation to any major public and civil infrastructure projects whether the government or delivery authorities had proper oversight and governance of these projects the causes and conditions that led to any corruption or misconduct”
- SupportedThe first public hearings run from November 9 to November 20 in Collingwood and will be livestreamed.Just In: “The first block of public hearings begins on November 9 and runs until November 20. The hearings are open to the public and will be held on Level 9, 54 Wellington Street in Collingwood [...] The hearings will also be livestreamed”
- SupportedFormer premiers Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan could be called to give evidence.Just In: “There is a chance former premiers Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan will be called to give evidence.”
- SupportedIn August, Carroll said “anyone and everyone can be called” and the commissioner would decide who and what was relevant.Just In: “In August, premier Ben Carroll said "anyone and everyone can be called" and that it would be up to the commissioner to determine who and what was relevant to its inquiries”
- SupportedMichael Crosby said developers, contractors, labour hire operators and others who profited from unlawful or unethical behaviour should be called if the commission was serious about uncovering the truth.Just In: “At the time, CFMEU administrator Michael Crosby said "developers, head contractors, subcontractors, labour hire operators and anyone else who had profited from unlawful or unethical behaviour" should be called "if this royal commission is serious about uncovering the truth".”