IBAC to investigate Andrews government’s major projects, including Big Build

The Andrews government’s Big Build program is among the major projects to be investigated by IBAC in coming months.

The Andrews government’s major projects will come under investigation over the next 12 weeks. Picture: David Crosling

Victoria’s major projects will come under the microscope of the state’s anti-corruption watchdog over the next 12 months, with the “improper influence” of lobbyists and donors also expected to be probed.

The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission on Tuesday published its annual plan for 2022-23 which detailed six key areas of interest.

These include police units and public sector agencies at high risk of corruption and how Victoria Police responds to family violence.

But the Andrews government’s Big Build program, and large projects with Commonwealth funding, are also set to remain in focus for the commission as a key area of interest.

“Major infrastructure projects across state and local governments involve significant expenditure which can make them vulnerable to corruption,” the annual plan reads.

The Metro Tunnel is among the government’s Big Build projects. Picture: David Crosling

“We will continue to build our understanding of the corruption risks of agencies that manage major projects funded by the Commonwealth and Victorian governments.

It comes after the Herald Sun revealed a bitter union turf war has led to the CFMEU delaying and stopping government projects until AWU-linked companies were ditched from work sites and replaced with favourable ones.

The Andrews Government has been accused of allowing this behaviour and of telling major builders to do deals with the CFMEU-aligned businesses or miss out on major billions of dollars in tenders being negotiated.

Opposition industrial relations spokesman Nick Wakeling in parliament referred the matter to IBAC for consideration.

The commission will also spend the next year examining the risk of “improper influence” on public service and political decision making.

This would include a “focus on the influence of lobbyists, donors, government-aligned stakeholders and third-party facilitators”.

Originally published as IBAC to investigate Andrews government’s major projects, including Big Build