Royal Commission into Victoria's Construction Industry
The first thing I did as Premier was call a Royal Commission into crime and misconduct in Victoria's construction industry.
I did that because Victorians deserve the truth. They deserve to know how organised crime found its way onto our building sites, who allowed it to happen, and how we make sure it never happens again. Nothing less than a Royal Commission, with full coercive powers and public hearings, will get us there.
Today I am announcing how that Commission will work.
A Commissioner of the highest standing
I have appointed the Honourable Chris Kourakis AC as Royal Commissioner.
He is a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of South Australia, served on that Court for over 18 years, is a former Solicitor-General, and is a Companion of the Order of Australia.
He is a jurist of unquestioned integrity, with impartiality and an unwavering fidelity to the rule of law and he has a single motivation: to ensure the law serves the community.
I chose someone independent, rigorous and fearless. The best in Australia. Because that is what this job demands.
Terms of reference that go where the evidence leads
The terms of reference are broad and expansive. Nothing is off limits.
They cover the conduct of the CFMEU, construction companies, labour hire firms, consortia and criminal actors on Victoria's major projects. And they cover the role of government; the executive, government departments and delivery agencies in overseeing the projects.
Critically, the terms of reference make it a matter for the Commissioner to decide whose actions and whose knowledge are relevant to the matters under investigation.
Not the government. Not me. The Commissioner. If he wants to hear from Ministers, former Ministers, senior officials, union leaders or company executives, he has the power to call them.
Resourced to do the job, and to do it quickly
The Commission will be funded with a budget of up to $50 million and I have asked it to report within 12 months. Victorians should not have to wait years for answers, and I will not allow this to be an exercise that runs into the never-never. It will be thorough and it will be timely.
Uncovering misconduct and stopping it happening again
The Commission's role is to uncover misconduct and to make recommendations that prevent it from happening in the future. It will follow the money, examine the systems that were exploited, and tell us plainly what went wrong and what must change. My government will act on what it finds.
Consequences, not just findings
I want to be clear and direct with Victorians about something. A Royal Commission does not have the power to charge or prosecute anyone. It can compel evidence and make findings, but it cannot put people before a court.
That is why we are establishing an Office of the Special Prosecutor: a dedicated, embedded resource working alongside the Commission, so that when wrongdoing is uncovered, it is investigated and it is pursued, and people face consequences.
We will legislate to create the Office of the Special Prosecutor to ensure it has access to all the information and evidence it needs to do its job. Findings will not sit on a shelf. They will be acted on.
I will appoint the Special Prosecutor once the office is created in statute in September. I will be taking advice from the Commissioner on that appointment, and we will legislate for the Special Prosecutor to have their own prosecution powers.
Additional powers for IBAC
Today I'm also announcing that we're fast-tracking changes to expand IBAC's jurisdiction. Legislation is now being drafted to give IBAC follow the money powers and expand the definition of corrupt conduct.
A new direction
I called this Royal Commission on my first day as Premier. I am appointing an independent Commissioner, giving him the powers, the scope, the money and the time to get to the truth, and backing it up with a prosecutor to make sure the truth has consequences.
