Former Victorian premiers Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan could ultimately be required to give evidence before a sweeping Royal Commission into alleged corruption within Victoria’s construction industry, as the state’s new Premier Ben Carroll prepares to launch one of the most significant public inquiries in recent Victorian history.
Only days after replacing Jacinta Allan as Premier, Carroll announced that his first major decision in office would be the establishment of a Royal Commission examining alleged corruption across Victoria’s construction sector, including government dealings with unions, contractors and agencies involved in the state’s massive Big Build infrastructure program.
While no witnesses have yet been formally summoned, legal experts say the Commission will have extensive powers to compel testimony if commissioners determine particular evidence is necessary to fulfil the inquiry’s terms of reference. That means former premiers, senior ministers, departmental officials, union representatives and executives from major construction companies could all potentially be called to appear. 
Ben Carroll’s first major act as Premier
Ben Carroll moved quickly after securing the Labor leadership, declaring that restoring public confidence in government integrity would become an immediate priority.
At his first press conference as Premier, Carroll confirmed the Royal Commission would investigate alleged misconduct within Victoria’s construction industry, alongside the establishment of a special prosecutor and expanded powers for the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC).
He also pledged that the inquiry would not be constrained by artificial time limits or narrow investigative boundaries, saying it would be empowered to examine the full extent of alleged misconduct wherever the evidence leads.
That announcement represented a significant departure from the position adopted by Jacinta Allan’s government, which had previously resisted repeated calls from the Opposition and some Labor MPs for a Royal Commission into the construction sector.
Why Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan are being mentioned
Much of the public attention has centred on the possibility that both Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan may eventually be asked to give evidence.
During the years covered by many of the allegations, Andrews served as Premier while Allan held several senior ministerial portfolios, including responsibility for transport and infrastructure before later becoming Deputy Premier and Premier.
Because the Royal Commission is expected to examine government decision-making surrounding major infrastructure projects, commissioners may determine that evidence from former political leaders is necessary to understand how decisions were made, what information governments received and how allegations of misconduct were handled.
Importantly, the possibility that someone may be called as a witness does not imply wrongdoing. Royal Commissions routinely hear evidence from ministers, public servants, business executives, experts and other individuals who may possess relevant information, regardless of whether any allegation has been made against them personally.
What the Royal Commission will investigate
According to announcements made by the new government, the inquiry will examine alleged corruption across Victoria’s construction industry, with particular attention expected to focus on projects delivered under the state’s multibillion-dollar Big Build infrastructure program.
The Big Build encompasses some of Victoria’s largest transport investments, including major rail, road and tunnel projects collectively worth well over A$100 billion.
The Commission is expected to investigate interactions between:
- Government departments and agencies.
- Major construction contractors.
- Subcontractors.
- Construction unions, including the CFMEU.
- Public procurement and project oversight processes.
Among the issues likely to receive scrutiny are allegations involving intimidation, unlawful conduct, organised crime infiltration, procurement practices, project cost escalation and whether existing oversight mechanisms were sufficient to identify and address misconduct.
The CFMEU controversy
The Royal Commission follows months of political controversy surrounding allegations involving the Victorian branch of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU).
Earlier this year, an independent report by Geoffrey Watson SC alleged widespread corruption within sections of the union during the John Setka era, describing serious allegations involving criminal infiltration, intimidation and misconduct across parts of Victoria’s construction industry.
The report alleged that corruption had imposed significant additional costs on major infrastructure projects and raised questions about whether governments possessed sufficient information to intervene earlier.
The CFMEU has disputed many allegations made against it, while various matters remain subject to ongoing investigations and legal processes.
Those allegations nevertheless intensified political pressure for a broader inquiry into the relationship between government agencies, major infrastructure projects and organised criminal activity.
How Royal Commissions work
A Royal Commission represents Australia’s highest form of public inquiry.
Established under legislation, Royal Commissions possess powers significantly broader than ordinary parliamentary committees.
Commissioners may compel witnesses to attend hearings, require documents to be produced under oath and examine evidence across government departments, private companies and other organisations.
Failing to comply with lawful notices issued by a Royal Commission can attract legal consequences.
Importantly, however, Royal Commissions do not determine criminal guilt.
Instead, they investigate facts, identify systemic failures and make recommendations to governments. If evidence suggesting criminal conduct emerges, commissioners may refer material to police, prosecutors or integrity agencies for further investigation.
Political significance before the election
The timing of the inquiry is particularly significant.
Victoria is due to hold a state election later this year, and Labor enters the campaign after more than a decade in government.
By announcing the Royal Commission almost immediately after becoming Premier, Carroll has sought to demonstrate that his administration intends to adopt a different approach to integrity issues than his predecessors.
His message has been reinforced by other early reforms, including proposed changes to Victoria’s upper house electoral system and commitments to strengthen IBAC’s investigative powers.
Political analysts say Carroll is attempting to convince voters that Labor can renew itself while remaining in government—a difficult task after twelve years in office.
Opposition welcomes inquiry—but wants broader scrutiny
The Victorian Opposition has broadly welcomed the decision to establish a Royal Commission while arguing the investigation should examine political decision-making at the highest levels of government.
Opposition figures have repeatedly argued that accountability should extend beyond construction companies and unions to include ministers and officials responsible for overseeing major infrastructure projects.
Some critics have also called for the inquiry to examine federal industrial relations changes affecting the construction sector and whether Commonwealth policy settings influenced events in Victoria.
Could Andrews and Allan actually be compelled to appear?
Legally, yes.
If the Royal Commission determines that Daniel Andrews, Jacinta Allan or any other former public official possesses evidence relevant to its investigation, commissioners may issue summonses requiring them to appear.
Whether that ultimately occurs will depend entirely on how the inquiry develops and what evidence emerges during its investigation.
At this stage, no witness list has been published and neither Andrews nor Allan has been directed to appear.
Their potential involvement therefore remains a possibility rather than a confirmed outcome.
A defining inquiry for Victoria
The Royal Commission is already shaping up to become one of the most consequential investigations into Victoria’s construction industry in decades.
Beyond examining allegations of corruption, its findings could influence future procurement rules, infrastructure governance, union oversight and integrity reforms across the state.
For Ben Carroll, the inquiry represents both a political opportunity and a significant test of leadership.
For Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan, it raises the possibility that decisions made during more than a decade of Labor government could come under unprecedented public examination.
Whether either former premier is ultimately called to testify will depend on the Commission’s independent assessment of the evidence. Regardless of who appears before it, the inquiry is expected to place Victoria’s Big Build program, government oversight and relationships between public authorities, contractors and unions under intense scrutiny for many months to come.
