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Big Build inquiry opens as findings threaten to hurt Ben Carroll’s campaign
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll is facing a politically difficult election campaign as a royal commission into the state’s Big Build begins public hearings on Monday. The inquiry was his first major decision as premier and helped distinguish him from his predecessor, Jacinta Allan, who had resisted calls for one; now its findings could damage Labor as well as examine alleged misconduct in government projects.
The hearings are scheduled to run for two weeks during the campaign, and Carroll has no control over who is called or what emerges. Early submissions include planning expert William McDougall’s claims that Labor advisers influenced major projects without adequate transparency, allegations denied by the government and still to be tested. The commission will initially examine the CFMEU’s conduct on Sunbury rail projects; a Roy Morgan poll of 2,084 Victorians in August found corruption and integrity failures were their leading issue deterring support.
In short
- The Big Build royal commission starts during Victoria’s election campaign.
- Carroll called the inquiry, but its findings could hurt Labor.
- Early scrutiny includes project decisions and CFMEU conduct.
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The case for
Holding the inquiry during the campaign could give voters timely scrutiny of a major public works programme, especially when integrity concerns are prominent. Carroll’s decision to establish the commission also signals a willingness to investigate allegations that his predecessor had resisted examining, and its findings may help clarify what happened and who was responsible.
The case against
Hearings scheduled during the campaign risk turning an independent inquiry into a political event, with untested allegations affecting voters before the evidence is fully examined. The inquiry may also expose failures on projects overseen by the government Carroll leads, making his decision to establish it politically costly and raising questions about whether adequate transparency was provided earlier.
Explained simply
Victoria’s Big Build refers to a programme of major transport and construction projects, including rail works. The CFMEU, a construction union, has been involved in some of the projects now under scrutiny. A royal commission is a public inquiry with powers to examine evidence and hear from witnesses.
Ben Carroll became Victorian premier after Jacinta Allan, whose government had resisted calls for an inquiry. Carroll’s decision to establish the commission was an early move in his leadership, but its work may also examine decisions made by Labor governments.
The inquiry matters because claims about how projects were planned and managed could affect public confidence in government. Allegations about political influence and misconduct have been disputed and remain to be tested; concerns about integrity have also emerged as an issue for some voters.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “A Big Build royal commission helped Ben Carroll become premier. Will it be his downfall?”.