Key facts
- Criminals infiltrated Victoria's Big Build construction projects.
- Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan acknowledged the infiltration.
- Jacinta Allan rejected calls for a royal commission.
- Allan stated a royal commission would not change industry culture.
- Allan cited past costly inquiries with limited success.
- Allan advocated for police investigations and stronger regulatory powers.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has confirmed that criminals have infiltrated the state's major construction projects, known as the Big Build. Despite this admission, Allan has firmly rejected calls from various quarters for a royal commission to investigate the issue. She stated that such an inquiry would not be an effective means of changing the culture within the construction industry. Allan further elaborated on her stance by referencing past costly royal commissions that yielded limited success in achieving their objectives. Instead of a broad commission, the Premier emphasized that the focus should remain on ongoing police investigations and the implementation of stronger regulatory powers. These measures, she believes, are the more appropriate and effective solutions for tackling criminal infiltration in the Big Build projects and ensuring the integrity of the state's infrastructure development.