Victoria’s Big Build royal commission: do the terms of reference go far enough?

Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has announced the terms of reference for the royal commission into criminality and corruption on Victoria’s Big Build .

Carroll claimed the terms of reference are “the broadest, most extensive, wide-ranging powers”, and that “nothing is off limits”.

The royal commission will be chaired by former South Australian judge Chris Kourakis.

It will have a budget of $50 million.

The royal commission will start its operations before the November election and will report by August next year.

So, why do we need a royal commission? And are the terms of reference adequate? Why is a royal commission needed? Royal commissions are ad hoc public inquiries with significant coercive powers to compel documents and witnesses and force answers even if self-incriminatory.

Royal commissions have been called in Australia for both the investigation of scandals (such as Robodebt and Aboriginal deaths in custody ) and broader policy issues (such as health and disability ).

Royal commissions are expensive.

So why is one needed now? The Big Build allegations of criminality and corruption are significant.

An independent investigation has shown organised crime and outlaw motorcycle gangs penetrated major government building projects through the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU), driving up costs through extortion, fixed procurement deals and “ghost shifts” – labour hire companies charging for shifts that were never worked.

As Carroll stated : There was grift, there was thuggery, there was misogyny, and there was violence on taxpayer-funded construction sites.

We don’t know at this stage how much the Victorian government knew about, or was complicit in, the Big Build corruption.

The full extent of corruption and government involvement will only be uncovered by an independent inquiry with coercive powers.

Read more: Without a Royal Commission, we won’t know the scale of the corruption in Victoria’s Big Build Police can arrest those who have committed crimes but will not be able to uncover government involvement in this saga.