source : the age
Premier Ben Carroll promised to give the newly established royal commission into the building industry whatever additional time, funding and power it needs to rid the state’s construction sector of criminals and corruption.
You can read the full terms of reference he unveiled on August 20 here:
Premier Ben Carroll revealed last month that former South Australian chief justice Chris Kourakis would lead today’s royal commission into the building industry.
Kourakis served as SA’s chief justice from 2012 until his retirement from the bench earlier this year. He was previously the state’s solicitor-general from 2003 to 2008.
Two Victorian barristers, Chris Young and Christopher Carr, have been appointed as counsel assisting the commission.
Young, KC, practises in public and commercial law and has appeared in proceedings involving building and construction projects. Carr, SC, is chair of the Victorian Criminal Bar Association, and practises across criminal and administrative law.
There is no list of witnesses who may appear before the commission yet, but the powers handed to Kourakis extend into the executive government, allowing him to call politicians and advisers alongside public servants, union leaders and building firms.
This could include Jacinta Allan and Daniel Andrews, as well as senior advisers who sought to warn Allan in writing about lawless CFMEU tactics, cost blowouts and the reported infiltration of organised crime on taxpayer-funded projects.
The royal commission into Victoria’s Big Build was Ben Carroll’s first pledge as premier and a defining issue in the ousting of Jacinta Allan as Labor leader in July.
The state has spent billions on major infrastructure projects since Daniel Andrews came to power in 2014, contributing to resounding election victories in 2018 and 2022.
However, damning reports of widespread waste, misconduct and corruption within the $109 billion Big Build began to emerge in 2024.
Powerful union boss John Setka abruptly resigned just before this masthead, The Australian Financial Review and 60 Minutes published an investigation into criminal infiltration of the CFMEU and building industry.
Good morning.
Welcome to the first day of the Royal Commission into the Integrity of Major Public and Civil Infrastructure Construction Projects in Victoria.
My name is Lachlan Abbott, and I’ll be keeping you updated as the commissioner, Justice Chris Kourakis, presides over the opening hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court from 10am.
We’re expecting today to be largely administrative and outline how the commission will run in the months ahead.
