Key facts
- The royal commission begins two weeks of public hearings on Monday, November 9, 2026.
- Premier Ben Carroll called the inquiry after predecessor Jacinta Allan refused to do so.
- The commission's initial focus includes the CFMEU's conduct on rail projects in Sunbury.
- Planning expert William McDougall's submission said Labor advisers may have influenced projects without transparency.
- The government denies McDougall's claims, which the commission will test.
- Roy Morgan polling of 2,084 Victorians in August found corruption and integrity failures the top issue stopping Labor votes.
A royal commission into Victoria's Big Build begins two weeks of public hearings on Monday, November 9, 2026, during a state election campaign. Premier Ben Carroll called the inquiry, formally the Royal Commission into the Integrity of Major Public and Civil Infrastructure Construction Projects, after his predecessor Jacinta Allan refused to do so despite acknowledging criminals had infiltrated construction projects.
Carroll said when writs for the election were issued: "I want to be a premier that did what he said he would do on integrity." A senior Labor source told Guardian Australia the party would not change its campaign plan and that Carroll would say: "I set this up, I want answers."
Deborah Glass, who served as the state's ombudsman from 2014 to 2024 and publicly called for a royal commission in June, told Guardian Australia: "This is a necessary examination of a shameful chapter in Victoria's history." She said Carroll had shown political courage.
Earlier this week, early submissions were aired in the media. Planning expert William McDougall said in his submission that Labor advisers may have influenced major projects without transparency or accountability, arguing that "announcement precedes analysis, dissent is discouraged, and accountability is weakened." The government denies the claims, which the royal commission will test.
On Friday, the commission revealed its initial focus would include the CFMEU's conduct on rail projects in Sunbury. In 2024, then Victorian CFMEU boss John Setka quit after 12 years at the helm following a Nine investigation into misconduct allegations.
Roy Morgan polling of 2,084 Victorians in August found corruption and integrity failures were the top issues that would stop people voting for Labor. Labor concedes the Electrical Trades Union's decision not to fund its campaign could be costly. The election is on 28 November.