# Big Build inquiry opens as findings threaten to hurt Ben Carroll’s campaign

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/a-big-build-royal-commission-helped-ben-carroll-become-premier-will-it-be-his-downfall/
- Published: 2026-11-07T19:00:19+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-07T19:19:57+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/nov/08/big-build-royal-commission-victorian-election-ben-carroll-labor-ntwnfb
- Topics: Elections, Politics, Software, Technology, World

## Key points

- 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.

## Summary

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.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.