Victorian Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has pledged to keep and expand independent advisory body Infrastructure Victoria, setting up a clear point of difference with Premier Ben Carroll, who has promised to abolish the agency. The vow comes as the Royal Commission into the Integrity of Major Public and Civil Infrastructure Construction Projects prepares to hold its first public hearings this week.
The royal commission, which begins public hearings on Monday, will focus on the Gap Road level crossing project in Sunbury, completed in 2023. Allegations before the inquiry include claims that former premier Jacinta Allan, as the minister responsible for the Big Build program, pressured the project consortium to side with the CFMEU in a demarcation dispute with the rival AWU. Allan denies the allegations. There are also separate claims, also denied, that doctored costings were included in the business case for the Melbourne Airport Rail Link.
Infrastructure Victoria was established in 2015 to provide strategic advice on the state's infrastructure priorities and to appraise the merits of individual projects. It was made responsible for publishing a 30-year infrastructure plan, updated every five years, and could advise the treasurer when requested on government or private-sector proposals for major projects. The agency first learnt about the Suburban Rail Loop when the government announced it, and its advice was not sought at the preliminary stage of the Melbourne Airport Rail Link or any other Big Build project. In December last year, a public service review recommended absorbing its operations into a department. In August, the Carroll government announced the agency would be axed entirely to find "commonsense savings" to the budget.
On Sunday, Wilson announced that a Coalition government would retain Infrastructure Victoria and look at expanding its remit. During a visit to a mixed martial arts gym in Collingwood, she said: "I think it's an important body that hasn't been well used by this Labor government," Wilson said. "This is a government that has been choosing projects because of politics by putting their own political interests over that of the Victorian taxpayer. So we will keep Infrastructure Victoria. We will look at how we potentially strengthen their role."
Wilson said the Coalition would look for ways to bring more transparency and accountability to major infrastructure projects. "We're very open to looking at how we expand their remit to provide that advice to government," she said. Consult Australia chief Jonathan Cartledge said: "With an election on the Victorian horizon, independent scrutiny of the investment pipeline is more critical than ever. The agency needs to be strengthened, not abolished."
The royal commission's first block of public hearings is scheduled to run until November 20, two days after early voting begins for the state election on November 28.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The fate of Infrastructure Victoria will affect how major projects are scrutinised and approved in the state, potentially altering billions of dollars in spending.
- The royal commission hearings may reveal further details about alleged political interference and union influence in the Big Build program, shaping voter perceptions ahead of the election.
- The contest between keeping or scrapping the agency represents a broader choice on transparency and evidence-based decision-making in infrastructure planning.
Background
Infrastructure Victoria was created in 2015 under the then-Labor government to provide independent, expert advice on the state's long-term infrastructure needs. Despite its intended role, the agency was sidelined on several flagship projects, including the Suburban Rail Loop, which was announced via Facebook before the agency was informed. The Royal Commission into the Integrity of Major Public and Civil Infrastructure Construction Projects was established by Premier Carroll in July, after years of controversy over the Building Bad scandal and allegations of union influence. The inquiry is now examining specific projects and allegations.
Key Perspectives
Jess Wilson (Opposition Leader): Says the agency has been "not well used" by Labor and that a Coalition government will keep it and look at strengthening its role to bring more transparency and accountability.
Ben Carroll (Premier) / Labor government: Announced in August that Infrastructure Victoria would be abolished to find "commonsense savings" to the budget, following an earlier decision to cut its operating budget.
Consult Australia (industry group): Called for the agency to be strengthened, not abolished, describing independent scrutiny as "more critical than ever" with an election approaching.
What to Watch
- The first week of royal commission hearings, from November 9, may produce testimony that impacts the election campaign.
- Early voting begins November 22, giving voters a chance to weigh in on the infrastructure accountability issue.
- The election result on November 28 will determine whether Infrastructure Victoria survives or is scrapped.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedWilson pledged to keep and expand Infrastructure Victoria.The Age - Latest News: “Wilson announced on Sunday that she would not only retain Infrastructure Victoria, but broaden its remit.”
- SupportedCarroll has pledged to abolish Infrastructure Victoria.The Age - Latest News: “Opposition Leader Jess Wilson vowing to keep and expand an independent advisory body that Premier Ben Carroll has pledged to abolish.”
- SupportedThe royal commission’s first public hearings start on Monday and will examine the Gap Road project in Sunbury.The Age - Latest News: “The Kourakis royal commission has announced that its first public hearings, starting on Monday, will examine the Gap Road project in Sunbury”
- SupportedThe Gap Road level crossing removal was completed in 2023.The Age - Latest News: “a level crossing removal completed in 2023.”
- SupportedAn allegation is that Allan, as the minister responsible for the Big Build, pressured the project consortium to side with the CFMEU in a demarcation dispute with the AWU; Allan denies it.The Age - Latest News: “allegations that Allan, as the government minister responsible for the Big Build at the time, pressured the Rail Infrastructure Alliance consortium overseeing the project to side with the CFMEU in a demarcation dispute with its rival building union, the AWU. The allegation, which Allan denies”
- SupportedSeparate allegations, also denied by Allan, say doctored costings were included in the Melbourne Airport Rail Link business case.The Age - Latest News: “There are separate allegations before the royal commission, also denied by Allan, that doctored costings were included in the business case for another Big Build project, the Melbourne Airport Rail Link”
- SupportedInfrastructure Victoria was established in 2015 and given responsibility for a 30-year infrastructure plan updated every five years.The Age - Latest News: “When it was established in 2015, the agency was made responsible for publishing a 30-year infrastructure plan for the state, one which was to be updated every five years.”
- SupportedThe agency’s advice was not sought at the preliminary stage of the Melbourne Airport Rail Link or any other Big Build project.The Age - Latest News: “Its advice was also not sought at the preliminary stage of the Melbourne Airport Rail Link or of any other Big Build project.”
- SupportedIn December last year, the Silver Review recommended absorbing Infrastructure Victoria’s operations into a department.The Age - Latest News: “In December last year, Infrastructure Victoria was identified for the chop by the Silver Review of the Victorian Public Service. “Infrastructure Victoria has undertaken good work but now is an appropriate time to absorb its operations into a department,” the review stated.”
- SupportedIn August, the Carroll government announced it would axe Infrastructure Victoria to find “commonsense savings” to the budget.The Age - Latest News: “In August this year, the Carroll government announced it would axe Infrastructure Victoria entirely to find “commonsense savings” to the budget.”
- SupportedWilson said, “I think it's an important body that hasn't been well used by this Labor government.”The Age - Latest News: ““I think it’s an important body that hasn’t been well used by this Labor government,” she said of Infrastructure Victoria.”
- SupportedThe first block of hearings is scheduled to run until November 20, two days after early voting begins for the state election on November 28.The Age - Latest News: “The first block of royal commission public hearings is scheduled to run until November 20 – two days after early voting begins for the state election.”