Former Victorian premier Jacinta Allan is expected to give evidence to a royal commission investigating alleged corruption and misconduct on construction sites linked to the state’s $150 billion Big Build programme. The inquiry will examine whether concerns about intimidation, criminal involvement and industrial relations problems were communicated to ministers, including Allan, and whether they affected publicly funded projects.

A cabinet memo from June 2023 raised concerns about contractors allegedly facing intimidation and criminal figures appearing on work sites, while a second briefing warned that such conduct could increase project costs and cause delays. The commission will investigate more than 100 projects and focus particularly on allegations involving the Victorian branch of the CFMEU, which reportedly accumulated over $10 million in penalties from 1,163 industrial-law breaches before entering administration in 2024. The inquiry is expected to continue through Victoria’s November election and has been given a mandate to pursue anyone suspected of abusing public power for private gain.