Prominent public policy experts and former integrity officials are ratcheting up pressure on the Victorian government, demanding a comprehensive commission of inquiry into the state's ambitious 'Big Build' infrastructure projects. The calls come in the wake of persistent allegations of union corruption and claims of significant public wastage.

Professor David Hayward, an emeritus professor of public policy and the social economy at RMIT University, expressed his bewilderment at the lack of a formal probe, particularly given a stream of investigative reports detailing alleged corruption linked to the massive construction program. He advocates for a 'Queensland-style' commission of inquiry to address the mounting concerns.

Earlier this month, Premier Jacinta Allan acknowledged the serious nature of the claims, issuing a written apology that stated: "We now know that criminals operated on some of Victoria's construction sites." However, the Premier simultaneously dismissed the need for a royal commission in the same July statement, asserting that the culture within Victoria's worksites was already undergoing transformation. In contrast, Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has pledged to initiate a royal commission should the Victorian Coalition secure power in the upcoming November election.

Professor Hayward points to a redacted report from a Queensland Commission of Inquiry into the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU), released in February, as a crucial piece of evidence underscoring the necessity for a Victorian investigation. The report, authored by Geoffrey Watson SC, controversially alleged that the Victorian branch of the CFMEU had devolved into a "violent, hateful and greedy rabble" under its former leadership. "We've had an apology from the Premier, but it does look like, on the face of it, that we need an inquiry to set the record straight," Professor Hayward stated, adding the need for "better financial minds to work on it and try and work out how much has been wasted."

While speculating the total financial waste might be "pretty small," he emphasized that "the bigger issue is how much has gone into the wrong hands. And we really need an inquiry to try and get to the bottom of that." Beyond financial accountability, Professor Hayward also highlighted the critical role an inquiry could play in restoring public faith in mainstream democracy, especially as the state approaches an election.

His calls echo those of other respected public probity leaders. Former Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass and former Victorian Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commissioner (IBAC) Robert Redlich have also jointly urged for a royal commission. Speaking in a recent interview, Mr. Redlich, who led IBAC from 2018 to 2022, described the situation as an "unprecedented, historic scandal" involving significant public wastage. He argued that "only a royal commission can root out all of the causes, all of the reasons why the checks and balances that are in place, have failed."

Ms. Glass, who served as Victorian Ombudsman from 2014 to 2024, previously voiced concerns over "eye-watering amounts of public money" being spent on the Big Build, insisting that allegations of corruption demanded thorough investigation. She lamented that "current integrity agencies are not able to deal with" the breadth of the allegations, concluding that "there's nothing left" but a royal commission in such circumstances.

Despite these escalating demands, Premier Allan has maintained her position, stating in June that any verifiable evidence of criminal behavior, including corruption and extortion, should be immediately handed over to Victoria Police. The debate over the necessity and scope of an independent inquiry continues, placing accountability for the state's most significant infrastructure projects firmly in the spotlight.