Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan is facing new calls to expand scrutiny of alleged corruption linked to the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union after a Queensland inquiry aired more claims about criminal activity on major building sites and the cost to taxpayers.
The latest political flashpoint is a report by barrister Geoffrey Watson SC commissioned during the CFMEU’s administration.
Redacted sections aired in Queensland included an estimate that the alleged conduct had cost Victoria about $15 billion.
The Victorian government has rejected the figure and said that the administrator removed the sections from the final report because they were not properly tested.
Allan has continued to say the claims are still allegations and says the focus should be on enforcement. Jacinta Allan, Victorian Premier said, “That is a claim that is not well-tested or properly founded.”
Pressure is also coming from inside Labor. Multiple government MPs including cabinet members have told that they believe a royal commission or similar inquiry is needed to restore confidence and stop the issue dragging on.
On Wednesday, the Legislative Council backed a motion calling for a royal commission with support from non government parties including the Greens.
At the same time, the Premier’s office has confirmed it learned in October 2024 that IBAC had rejected a July 2024 referral from Allan as outside the watchdog’s jurisdiction.
The Greens are pushing for changes to expand IBAC’s ability to track public money beyond public officials and into private contractors and subcontractors tied to government funded work.
Victoria Police’s Taskforce Hawk has laid charges in a blackmail investigation and Allan has pointed to ongoing operations as evidence agencies have the tools to act.
It points to a 2024 formal review response that promised a single complaints referral body for government construction sites, stronger powers for the Labour Hire Authority and tougher contract clauses that require contractors to report and deal with suspected unlawful conduct.
