维多利亚州新总理本·卡罗尔上台后宣布成立皇家委员会，对该州建筑行业展开全面调查[1][3]。这一调查覆盖包括顶级承包商、政府部门和工会在内的各方[3]，其中重点调查对象为涉嫌组织犯罪、暴力和贪污的建筑、林业和采矿业工会（CFMEU）[1]。卡罗尔表示此次调查"不会遗漏任何一块石头"[3]，同时宣布成立特别检察官职位，配合皇家调查委员会工作[1]。
维多利亚州"大建设"项目规模达约1090亿澳元[2]，包括新建道路、火车站和隧道等基础设施。根据调查员杰弗里·沃森（Geoffrey Watson）的报告，工会与黑帮的勾结造成维多利亚纳税人的损失"最多可能达150亿澳元"[1][2]。CFMEU工会在2024年8月被纳入管理部门[1]，工会管理员马克·欧文（Mark Irving）随后收到死亡威胁[1]。
前任总理杰辛塔·艾伦因长期抵制召开皇家调查而下台[1]，其支持率在2024年7月跌至负36%[2]。艾伦在周二上午辞去总理职位，此前面临工党党团的领导力更换压力[3]。卡罗尔表示"在我的政府中，廉正不是可选的"[2]。维多利亚州将在11月举行州选举[1][2][3]。前总理丹尼尔·安德鲁斯在近期发表声明表示"我相信卡罗尔总理及其团队可以在11月赢得选举"[3]。
Victoria's new Premier Ben Carroll has announced a royal commission into corruption within the state's construction sector, focusing on alleged organized crime, violence, and corruption involving the CFMEU union.[1][3] The inquiry comes after Carroll took office following the resignation of his predecessor Jacinta Allan, who had resisted calls for such an investigation.[3] Carroll stated that under his government, "integrity is not optional" and pledged that "no stone will be left unturned" in the investigation, which will examine contractors, government agencies, and unions.[2][3]
The announcement addresses systemic problems within Victoria's massive infrastructure program. The state's "Big Build" project, valued at approximately 1,090 billion Australian dollars, has generated significant concerns about organized crime's impact on costs.[2] According to a report by Geoffrey Watson commissioned by the CFMEU, Victorian taxpayers may have lost as much as 15 billion Australian dollars due to organized crime associated with the Big Build project, though this figure remains disputed.[1][2] The investigation will be supported by a newly established special prosecutor role to work alongside the royal commission.[1] In August 2024, the CFMEU was placed under administration, with union administrator Mark Irving subsequently receiving death threats.[1]
Carroll's government faces mounting fiscal pressures alongside the corruption crisis. Victoria's debt currently stands at 150 billion Australian dollars and is projected to reach 199.3 billion Australian dollars by 2030, representing 24.4 percent of gross state product.[2] With state elections scheduled for November, Carroll has approximately four months to restore voter confidence in the Labor government, which saw its approval rating plummet to minus 36 percent under Allan's leadership.[1][2]