Arabic version: كارول يتعهد بمفوضية ملكية واسعة النطاق بشأن «بيغ بيلد»

According to ABC News, Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has announced a royal commission into the construction sector, pledging an “exhaustive” examination of alleged corruption and violence connected to government Big Build sites.

Carroll said he had asked the head of the Department of Premier and Cabinet to begin work immediately on the inquiry. The commission is set to investigate the multi-decade, $100 billion government construction program. Allegations of misconduct, corruption and violence have been made at government worksites, while estimates suggest taxpayers may have lost up to $15 billion through criminal activity.

The inquiry’s terms of reference have not yet been detailed. Carroll said he wanted no stone left unturned, including scrutiny of top-tier contractors, subcontractors, labour hire firms, government and unions. Royal commissions are governed by terms of reference that determine their jurisdiction and focus.

Transparency International Australia chief executive Clancy Moore said a forensic investigation was needed to restore public trust. Anti-corruption barrister Geoffrey Watson SC, who wrote a report on allegations involving the Victorian CFMEU branch, welcomed the announcement and said the state’s enterprise bargaining agreement system had concentrated power among very few people and was susceptible to outside corruption.

Former Victorian Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission commissioner Robert Redlich said the commission was long overdue, but warned its effectiveness would depend heavily on its terms of reference. Opposition leader Jess Wilson described the proposal as a “fake royal commission”, arguing it should be established before the election and should hear from Labor figures. Redlich said former premiers Jacinta Allan and Daniel Andrews should be called if the inquiry examines how the problems began.