Integrity and Anti Corruption
The CFMEU/Big Build corruption scandal and the royal commission called in response, plus the IBAC Amendment Bill 2026.
What it is
he CFMEU/Big Build corruption scandal and the response: Labor's Royal Commission into the Integrity of Major Public and Civil Infrastructure Construction Projects (called by Carroll as his first act) and the fast-tracked IBAC Amendment Bill 2026 (broader "corrupt conduct", "follow the money" powers) (1(;2 ).
Evidence
Watson's "Rotting from the Top" alleged the CFMEU Victorian branch "was no longer a trade union, it was a crime syndicate" and estimated a $15bn cost to taxpayers (a redacted chapter; Allan rejected the figure; Fair Work's Murray Furlong called it "consistent" with government officials' information) (2). Royal commission budget $50m; commissioner Christopher Kourakis; report due August 2027; opening hearing 23 Sept 2026 (1). IBAC issued a formal pre-election corruption-risk warning to all parties on 29 Sept (3). Crucially, integrity is a *low-salience* issue: corruption was top-three for only 15% of Labor defectors and 28% of One Nation converts (4).
Where it bites
Statewide/metropolitan (Big Build projects), with regional resonance where union/labour issues matter.
Who owns it
Coalition/One Nation attack Labor over CFMEU/Big Build; but polling shows it moves few votes relative to cost of living, crime and health — Coalition messaging has not converted the scandal into broad salience (4).
- ABC News — Royal commission into Victorian construction sector corruption to open next week (2026-09-16) ↩
- Guardian Australia — The CFMEU has cost Victorian taxpayers $15bn, a corruption fighter claims (2026-02-16) ↩
- IBAC — IBAC issues warning to political parties ahead of state election (2026-09-29) ↩
- The Conversation (Accent Research / University of Melbourne) — Exclusive poll shows nearly half of respondents defecting from Victorian Labor. What do these voters care about? (2026-08-16) ↩
Did you enjoy this article?
Recommend it — Standard Reader surfaces well-loved writing to more readers across the network.