Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has declared he is willing to appear before the state's upcoming royal commission into construction sector corruption, while simultaneously brushing off demands from the Coalition over how the inquiry should be framed.

The royal commission, aimed at probing systemic issues within Victoria's massive Big Build infrastructure initiative, was announced by Mr Carroll shortly after he assumed leadership following Jacinta Allan's resignation. However, political battle lines are already being drawn over who should be called to testify and how broad the probe's mandates should be.

Coalition Demands Non-Negotiable Inquiry Scope

State Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has unveiled a comprehensive set of proposed terms of reference, insisting her party will not support an inquiry framed solely by the Labor administration.

Addressing the government, Ms Wilson characterized the Coalition’s proposed terms as 'non-negotiable' and stressed that the public deserves complete transparency regarding project management and union conduct.

'Integrity is not a stunt,' Ms Wilson stated. 'Victorians deserve answers. They deserve to know how their money has gone from these worksites into the pockets of criminals.'

In a formal letter accompanying the proposed terms, the Coalition argued that the investigation must look well beyond individual union figures like former CFMEU chief John Setka to examine how public funds and major infrastructure projects were administered at the highest levels of government.

High-Profile Witnesses Targeted

The Coalition’s proposed witness list includes 25 high-profile figures, featuring:

• Former Premier Daniel Andrews
• Former Premier Jacinta Allan
• Current Premier Ben Carroll
• Deputy Premier Gabrielle Williams
• Construction sector mediator Mick Gatto
• Disgraced former union official John Setka

The push to call former political leadership aligns with recent comments from former Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) commissioner Robert Redlich, who publicly asserted that both Mr Andrews and Ms Allan should undoubtedly be called to give evidence.

Government Responds: 'Deeds Not Words'

Premier Carroll was quick to dismiss the Coalition's witness list and terms of reference, labeling the opposition's maneuver as a political distraction.

'The opposition are about stunts; I'm about deeds, not words,' Mr Carroll said on Sunday, emphasizing that he is actively coordinating with the inquiry's chief commissioner to finalize the formal scope.

When questioned about whether former leaders should appear, Mr Carroll refrained from naming specific individuals but maintained that the royal commission's reach would be broad.

'Everyone should be questioned that the royal commission believes had a role,' Carroll stated. 'That'll be a matter for the commissioner and the terms of reference. They'll be wide and they'll be exhaustive.'

Mr Carroll added that while he had not yet formally reviewed the opposition's submission, he remains open to appearing before the commissioner himself if summoned to testify.