Victorian Construction Corruption Royal Commission to Hold Opening Hearing

The royal commission probing the extent of corruption on major Victorian construction projects will hold an opening hearing next week — just two months out from the state election.

Ben Carroll called the royal commission in his first act as premier in July, promising an exhaustive inquiry into the corruption allegations "as soon as possible".

The opening hearing of the Royal Commission into the Integrity of Major Public and Civil Infrastructure Construction Projects in Victoria will now go ahead in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court next Wednesday.

It's likely the hearing will address the inquiry's terms of reference and next steps before witnesses are called at later hearings.

With a state election a little over two months away, the timeline for any further hearings is unclear.

However, the commission is expected to report to the state government by August next year.

Mr Carroll unveiled the inquiry's terms of reference in August, describing them as expansive.

"The terms of reference are broad. They are expansive. Nothing is off limits," he said at the time.

They include the extent of corruption on major infrastructure projects, the effectiveness of oversight from government bodies and actions contractors took to mitigate risks.

Former South Australian Supreme Court chief justice Christopher Kourakis will head up the commission, which has a budget of $50 million dollars.

According to the website, a schedule for the public hearings will be published at a later date.

Hearings will be live-streamed unless there is a direction to the contrary.

Mr Carroll committed to the royal commission after toppling his predecessor Jacinta Allan, who had long refused to call an inquiry despite internal pressure.

He has continued to face some questions from the opposition over whether the inquiry will be properly empowered to uncover the impact of corruption in the sector, which anti-corruption barrister Geoffrey Watson has previously estimated cost Victorian taxpayers up to $15 billion.

Mr Kourakis will be tasked with determining who and what is relevant to his inquiries, including former premiers.

In early September, the royal commission announced it had appointed a chief executive officer and legal counsel.

Senior public servant and administrator Emma Catford will serve as the commission's chief executive, while senior barristers Chris Young and Christopher Carr have been appointed as counsel assisting the commission.

Mr Kourakis said those appointees brought "deep experience" across administrative and public law.