Today, the Victorian Liberal and Nationals announce a comprehensive plan to tackle corruption in Victoria.
Victorians have a right to know where the $15 billion of taxpayers' money wasted on Big Build projects has gone.
This is not just a law-and-order issue. It goes to the strength of our economy and the confidence people have in Victoria.
Crime and corruption are deterring investment, damaging our reputation, and driving businesses elsewhere.
We can repair the budget and build a stronger economic future. But that requires confronting organised crime and rooting out corruption wherever it exists.
That's why, this week in Parliament, the Liberals and Nationals will introduce legislation to:
- Give IBAC follow the money powers;
- Establish Construction Enforcement Victoria; and
- Stamp out organised crime on government-funded construction projects.
A Wilson-led Liberal and Nationals government will:
Target Crime Bosses:
We will introduce tough new laws, modelled on the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations (RICO) Act in the United States. This will target criminal bosses who run organised crime networks.
Under these laws, gang leaders who direct or benefit from a pattern of serious criminal activity will face significantly longer jail terms.
Create a taskforce to recover money stolen from government projects:
We will establish a Victoria Police taskforce, in conjunction with the Australian Federal Police and Australian Taxation Office, to seize assets linked to criminal conduct on Big Build sites, fully utilise the 2024 asset seizure laws and return the proceeds of crime to taxpayers and victims.
This will ensure these powers are used effectively to recover taxpayer money from organised crime and bikie gangs.
More powers for IBAC:
We will strengthen IBAC's powers to follow taxpayer money, including how public funds are spent by third parties.
This will ensure IBAC has the powers it needs to root out corruption on taxpayer funded Big Build sites.
We will also ensure Victorians have greater transparency of corruption investigations by making it easier to hold public hearings.
Construction Enforcement Victoria:
We will establish Construction Enforcement Victoria to enforce compliance with the Construction Industry Code on taxpayer funded building sites, restoring integrity to major projects.
Construction Enforcement Victoria will have the power to investigate breaches of the Code, issue Banning Orders to individuals and will be required to refer allegations of criminal activity to Victoria Police and allegations of corruption to IBAC.
Stamp out organised crime on government projects:
The Liberals and Nationals will ban bikies and anyone with links to organised crime from Victorian major projects through mandatory background checks, ensuring toughest standards in the nation for government-funded worksites.
Royal Commission into the CFMEU:
The Liberals and Nationals will establish a Royal Commission into CFMEU misconduct to chase down every single cent and ensure those responsible for rorting $15 billion are held to account.
As stated by Jess Wilson, Leader of the Opposition
"This is our plan to chase down every single cent of the $15 billion rorted on Big Build sites, get taxpayer money back and clean up Victoria."
"Businesses will not invest in a state where organised crime runs rampant and they are forced to deal with criminals.
"The Premier continues to turn a blind eye but I will put in place the laws to end corruption on government construction sites
As stated by James Newbury, Shadow Attorney-General
"Jacinta Allan and her Labor Government has covered up corruption, which only encourages rotten criminals to flourish.
"Victorians deserve a government that wants to stamp out crime, has a plan to clean up the corruption, and fix the problems is our State.
"Jess Wilson and our team will stop the rampant corruption that has already cost taxpayers $15 billion and clean up and State."
As stated by Brad Rowswell, Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations
"Construction Enforcement Victoria will ensure that the cancer of corruption in Victoria is halted, that hardworking Victorian taxpayers are not ripped off and that the rights of construction workers are protected."
"We will make sure that government work is delivered with integrity and accountability."
