Victorian Premier Ben Carroll launches royal commission into construction sector
Ben Carroll was sworn in as Victoria’s 50th premier on 28 July 2026 after Jacinta Allan resigned. Within hours he announced a royal commission into the state’s construction sector, known as the $100 billion “Big Build”, to investigate alleged corruption on taxpayer‑funded sites.
Carroll also pledged to expand the powers of the state anti‑corruption watchdog IBAC, set up a special prosecutor to work with the commission, and announced extra funding for the police. In his first press conference he introduced Workplace Protection Orders, granting new offences and penalties to protect retail and transport workers from violent or abusive customers.
On the same day the Multicultural Victoria Amendment Bill 2026 was tabled, creating a new statutory body to replace the Victorian Multicultural Commission and signalling a broader reform agenda as the state heads toward its November election.
Entities: Ben Carroll · IBAC · Independent Broad‑based Anti‑corruption Commission (IBAC) · Jacinta Allan · Multicultural Victoria · Royal Commission into the construction sector · State of Victoria · Victoria · Victoria (Australia) · Victorian Labor Party
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 5 SOURCES] Carroll announced a royal commission into the construction sector (the “Big Build”). (Carroll announced a royal commission into the construction sector, targeting the Big Build.)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Carroll will lead Victorian Labor into the November state election.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Ben Carroll succeeded Jacinta Allan as premier of Victoria. (Ben Carroll has become the 50th Premier of Victoria after Jacinta Allan resigned.)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Carroll pledged to expand powers of the state anti‑corruption watchdog IBAC. (Carroll said integrity would not be optional and pledged greater powers for IBAC.)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Jacinta Allan resigned as premier of Victoria.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Ben Carroll was previously deputy premier and education minister before becoming premier. (Carroll served as Deputy Premier and Education Minister before his swearing‑in.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Ben Carroll introduced Workplace Protection Orders to protect retail and transport workers. (Carroll announced Workplace Protection Orders with penalties for breaches.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] $15 billion may have been lost to wrongdoing on construction sites, according to an integrity expert. (Integrity expert estimated $15 billion loss from corruption on taxpayer‑funded construction sites.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Multicultural Victoria Amendment Bill 2026 was introduced to replace the Victorian Multicultural Commission. (The bill proposes a new statutory body, Multicultural Victoria, to succeed the former commission.)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Ben Carroll announced a royal commission into the construction sector (the “Big Build”). (announced royal commission)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Ben Carroll pledged additional funding for the state police force. (fund police)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The royal commission will investigate alleged corruption on taxpayer‑funded construction sites. (investigate construction corruption)