Victorian premier 'happy' to appear before Big Build royal commission

Premier dismisses oppositon draft terms of reference for Big Build inquiry as a 'stunt' Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 11:45am In short: Premier Ben Carroll says he would give evidence at a royal commission into Victoria's Big Build if required. The state opposition's proposed terms of reference lists Mr Carroll and former premiers Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan as potential witnesses. The opposition says it won't support terms of reference that are set by Labor alone. Victorian Premier Ben Carroll says he would be "happy" to appear before a royal commission into construction sector corruption, but has rejected any immediate help from the state opposition in determining terms of reference for the inquiry. A royal commission into corruption in Victoria's Big Build was the first thing Mr Carroll announced after he took over from Jacinta Allan as premier last week. Opposition leader Jess Wilson has released her party's proposed terms of reference for the royal commission and said she won't support terms that are devised by Labor alone. At the top of the opposition's witness wish list was former premier Daniel Andrews, construction sector mediator Mick Gatto, disgraced former CFMEU boss John Setka and recently-resigned premier Jacinta Allan. Mr Carroll and his deputy leader Gabrielle Williams were also on the opposition's 25-person list of witnesses to be called in its proposed terms of reference. On Sunday morning Mr Carroll said he "would be happy" to give evidence if required, but dismissed the opposition's proposed terms of reference and witness list as a "stunt". "The opposition are about stunts, I'm about deeds not words," Mr Carroll said. "I'm working with the chief commissioner and getting on with the job of the terms of reference for the royal commission." Mr Carroll said he had not read the opposition's proposals for the royal commission. "I will read it but we haven't been able to find it. I think the media got a copy of it before I did and I've asked my office to track down a copy,"he said. Last week, former commissioner of Victoria's Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC), Robert Redlich, said Mr Andrews and Ms Allan should "undoubtedly" be called to give evidence before the royal commission. Mr Carroll would not say whether he believed Mr Andrews and Ms Allan should be called as witnesses, as proposed by the opposition. "Everyone should be questioned that the royal commission believes had a role," he said. "That'll be a matter for the commissioner and the terms of reference. They'll be wide and they'll be exhaustive." In a letter to the premier accompanying the opposition's proposed terms of reference, Ms Wilson said the inquiry should extend beyond the CFMEU. "Since the scandal first became public, further information has emerged that demonstrates the inquiry must extend beyond the conduct of one union," she said. "It must examine the broader system through which major projects have been selected, procured, administered and funded. "As you rightly identified in your press conference yesterday, those terms of reference must be expansive. They must also specifically examine — at public hearings as a matter of urgency –the knowledge and culpability of what current and former Premiers, Ministers and senior officials knew." Ms Wilson said her party would not support "narrow terms designed by Labor alone" or the appointment of a commissioner without consultation. [Image text:] Health safel