Source : Perth Now news
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has said he would be “happy” to be called before a royal commission into allegations of corruption on government Big Build sites.
Mr Carroll, who became premier last Tuesday after Jacinta Allan was forced to resign, revealed on Sunday he wanted the inquiry to begin before the state election in November.
“This is something that needs to be done now,” he said.
After being sworn into the role, Mr Carroll said his first act as premier would be to call for a royal commission into the construction industry, a move Ms Allan had refused in the final months of her leadership.
The Victorian government’s Big Build project is a major construction effort including new roads, tunnels and train stations, however it has been plagued in recent months by allegations of criminal infiltration through the CFMEU.
Addressing the media, Mr Carroll said he had tasked the Department of Premier and Cabinet head to begin work on the terms of reference for the royal commission, expected to be announced next week.
He said he would be “happy” to give evidence if called to do so.
“Everyone should be questioned that the royal commissioner believes had a role. That will be a matter for the commissioner and the terms of reference – they will be wide and they will be exhaustive,” he said.
His comments come after Opposition Leader Jess Wilson released her party’s proposed terms of reference, including a list of 25 witnesses it wants called including former premiers Daniel Andrews and Ms Allan.
“Yesterday we wrote to the new premier Ben Carroll outlining our non-negotiable terms of reference for a real royal commission into the largest corruption scandal in Victoria’s history, costing taxpayers at least $15bn” she said on Sunday.
Mr Carroll said he had not yet read the opposition’s proposal.
“I think the media got a copy of it before I did and I’ve asked my office to track down a copy,” he said.“I am not going to run a commentary on the royal commission … I’ll have more to say next week.”
Meanwhile, Mr Carroll is expected to reveal his front bench shortly with caucus expected to meet on Monday to discuss who should be ministry before the Premier assigns portfolios.
Already, two ministers and Socialist Left allies of Ms Allan have resigned from cabinet and will leave politics at the November 28 election and there is speculation others will follow.
Health Minister Harriet Shing and Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio announced they would quit the cabinet two days after the coup that ended Ms Allan’s leadership.
Mr Carroll has also moved swiftly to axe the secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Jeremi Moule, who held the job under Mr Andrews and Ms Allan.
Treasury secretary Chris Barrett has been moved into the role.
