Arabic version: كارول يتعهد بالتركيز على النزاهة ونقاش القنب

According to The Guardian, Victorian premier Ben Carroll says controversies involving the state’s two previous premiers have eroded public trust in government. In an interview, Carroll said the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission report on the Andrews government’s dealings with the United Firefighters Union showed a failure of cabinet government, even though it made no findings of corrupt conduct.

Carroll said he found it difficult to accept that a firefighter enterprise bargaining agreement was negotiated in a Melbourne hotel room in 2016 without the knowledge of Jane Garrett, the minister responsible. The report found members of the Andrews government engaged in “serious and concerning” conduct. Carroll called the report vindication for Garrett, who resigned as emergency services minister rather than support the agreement and died in 2022.

The premier has announced a royal commission into the construction industry, with terms of reference expected to be made public next week. It will examine major contractors, subcontractors, unions and government after allegations of corruption on the $100bn Big Build program, estimated to have cost taxpayers up to $15bn. Carroll said he did not believe government officials knew about the alleged corruption as it unfolded, while declining to prejudge the inquiry’s findings.

Carroll also said he was open to discussing decriminalisation of cannabis possession and cultivation in small amounts for personal use, but opposed full legalisation. Several Victorian parliamentary inquiries have recommended following the ACT’s approach. He said legalisation in other places had affected local amenity and that he did not want that outcome in Victoria.

Describing himself as financially responsible and socially progressive, Carroll reaffirmed his support for Victoria’s treaty with First Nations people and said the state should address the causes of crime through education, programs for young people, stable housing and jobs. He also identified a rail line to Melbourne airport as his leading infrastructure priority and said Victoria’s first offshore wind industry auction would proceed as planned.