Victoria’s new Premier Ben Carroll has sought to make an immediate break with the recent past, unveiling an ambitious integrity agenda within hours of taking office and declaring that his government will be defined by transparency, accountability and a different style of leadership.

After being unanimously elected leader of the Victorian Labor Party following Jacinta Allan’s resignation, Carroll used his first press conference to announce what he described as the first major priority of his premiership: a Royal Commission into alleged corruption within the state’s construction sector.

The announcement represents one of the most significant policy reversals by a Victorian Labor premier in recent years.

Under Jacinta Allan’s government, repeated calls from the Coalition, crossbench MPs and sections of the business community for a royal commission had been rejected. Carroll instead argued that restoring public confidence required a more comprehensive investigation with the broad powers available only to a Royal Commission.

Standing alongside the newly elected Deputy Premier Gabrielle Williams, Carroll said integrity would become the defining principle of his administration.

“I am not Daniel Andrews. I am not Jacinta Allan,” he told reporters.

The message was designed to reassure voters that despite serving as deputy premier under Allan and as a senior minister during the Andrews era, his government would pursue a different agenda.

Beyond establishing the Royal Commission, Carroll announced two further measures intended to strengthen Victoria’s anti-corruption framework.

His government will create the position of a special prosecutor to work alongside the commission and pursue any criminal matters arising from its investigations.

He also pledged to expand the powers of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC), including granting it enhanced “follow-the-money” powers to investigate the use of public funds by private contractors and subcontractors involved in government projects.

The proposed changes are intended to address long-running concerns surrounding Victoria’s multibillion-dollar infrastructure program, commonly known as the Big Build.

Over recent months, allegations involving organised crime, intimidation, unlawful conduct and financial misconduct within parts of the construction industry have dominated the state’s political debate.

Although many allegations remain disputed or untested in court, they have fuelled demands for an inquiry with the legal authority to compel witnesses, obtain financial records and examine systemic failures.

Political pressure intensified after Geoffrey Watson SC’s report into the Victorian branch of the CFMEU alleged widespread corruption, organised crime links and serious governance failures connected with major infrastructure projects.

The report claimed criminal networks had infiltrated sections of the construction industry and benefited from public spending, allegations that became central to the political crisis surrounding Jacinta Allan’s leadership.

The Allan government disputed key aspects of the report and resisted calls for a Royal Commission, arguing that other investigative processes were already underway.

Carroll’s announcement therefore carries considerable symbolic as well as practical significance.

By embracing an inquiry that his predecessor rejected, he has attempted to demonstrate that his premiership will not simply continue the approach adopted under Andrews and Allan.

Political analysts say the move also reflects Labor’s recognition that integrity issues had become increasingly damaging ahead of November’s state election.

Despite the change in direction, Carroll faces criticism from opponents who argue he cannot completely separate himself from the governments he previously served.

As deputy premier and a senior cabinet minister, he participated in many of the decisions now being scrutinised.

Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has argued that replacing the premier does not erase Labor’s record after more than twelve years in office, while several commentators have questioned why Carroll did not advocate similar reforms earlier.

Carroll rejects that criticism.

He has maintained that leadership requires responding to changing circumstances and said Victorians should judge his government by the decisions it makes from this point forward rather than by assumptions based on previous administrations.

According to the new premier, restoring trust requires immediate action rather than continued political argument over past events.

Business groups have broadly welcomed the emphasis on accountability.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce has urged the new government to combine stronger integrity measures with improved fiscal discipline, regulatory certainty and closer engagement with the private sector as Victoria seeks to rebuild investor confidence.

Carroll has indicated he intends to pursue a more consultative style of government while reviewing major infrastructure priorities and addressing the state’s substantial debt burden.

Royal commissions occupy a unique place in Australia’s legal system.

Unlike departmental reviews or parliamentary inquiries, they possess extensive statutory powers to compel witnesses to give evidence, require documents to be produced and conduct public hearings into matters of major public importance.

Although they do not determine criminal guilt, their findings frequently lead to prosecutions, legislative reform and changes to government administration.

The creation of a special prosecutor alongside the inquiry is intended to ensure that evidence uncovered during the commission can be assessed quickly for potential criminal proceedings where appropriate.

With only a few months remaining before Victorians vote in the November state election, Carroll has little time to establish his own political identity.

His first press conference therefore served not only as a policy announcement but also as an attempt to redefine Labor’s public image.

Rather than defending the record of previous governments, he presented himself as the leader of what he described as a renewed administration focused on integrity, accountability and restoring confidence in public institutions.

Whether those initiatives prove sufficient to persuade voters remains uncertain.

The Coalition argues that Carroll’s long service in senior cabinet positions makes it difficult for him to claim complete separation from the Andrews and Allan governments.

Labor, meanwhile, hopes that decisive early action on corruption, governance and oversight will convince Victorians that the party has listened to public concerns and is prepared to change course.

As the election campaign approaches, the Royal Commission, expanded IBAC powers and the work of the proposed special prosecutor are likely to become defining issues in the contest over Victoria’s political future.