Live: Victoria's Big Build royal commission gets underway
Premier Ben Carroll's first act distanced him from Jacinta Allan, but analysts doubt voters will reward Labor if hearings expose fresh corruption claims.
Quick Look
- Victoria Premier Ben Carroll established a royal commission into alleged corruption on Big Build infrastructure projects as his first act, distancing himself from predecessor Jacinta Allan.
- Public hearings begin this week ahead of the November 28 state election, but analysts say voters are unlikely to reward Labor if fresh corruption claims emerge.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Ben Carroll became premier and established a royal commission into alleged corruption on Victoria's Big Build infrastructure projects as his first act, distancing himself from predecessor Jacinta Allan. The first public hearings begin this week ahead of the state election on November 28.
Establishing the royal commission was Ben Carroll's first act as premier, a move that distanced him from predecessor Jacinta Allan.
But any hope the public would reward Carroll and Labor for calling the inquiry quickly evaporated.
The government didn't receive a poll bounce from changing leaders — it thus seems unlikely voters will reward Labor over the next fortnight if hearings expose fresh corruption claims.
The ABC's state political reporter Richard Willingham breaks it down in his analysis below:
The construction sites of the Victorian government's Big Build have become hotbeds for allegations of criminal wrongdoing, corruption and serious misconduct.
The Victorian government has called a royal commission into the alleged corruption, with its first hearings to begin this week.
To learn how we got here, head to our explainer below:
Good morning!
We're going to be bringing you live coverage every day in the lead up to the Victorian state election on November 28.
And while political parties hit the campaign trail, the Big Build royal commission will begin its first block of public hearings today, exploring allegations of corruption on Victoria's public infrastructure projects.
We'll bring you coverage from those hearings, as well as all the major political stories in the leadup to the state election.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The royal commission will hold public hearings this week exploring corruption allegations on Victoria's public infrastructure projects.
Very likely · Within days
ABC will provide daily live coverage of the hearings and election campaign stories.
Very likely · Within days
Open Questions
- What specific corruption claims will the royal commission hearings examine?
- Will the hearings expose new allegations before the election?
- How will voters respond to the royal commission findings before November 28?
