Probe into Victoria’s construction sector to be made public in days

A report into the “rotten culture” in Victoria’s construction sector will be made public on Friday after allegations of underworld figures infiltrating the CFMEU and the government’s Big Build projects.

An interim report into the “rotten culture” within Victoria’s construction sector will be made public on Friday, a day after it is due to be handed to the government.

The Herald Sun has confirmed Jacinta Allan will table the report by longtime bureaucrat Greg Wilson in parliament on Friday, after the parliamentary sitting week has ended.

It is understood the government will receive the report on Thursday, and will take a day to consider it before making it public.

The review was ordered last month following allegations that underworld figures and senior bikies had infiltrated the CFMEU and the government’s feted Big Build.

The allegations that prompted the review also led to the sudden resignation of former CFMEU boss John Setka. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Mr Wilson — who has worked as the chair of the TAC and CFA, a Secretary of the Department of Justice and Regulation and most recently as the Acting Commissioner of the Victorian Public Sector Commissioner — has been tasked with finding ways to strengthen legislation to respond to allegations of wrongdoing across the construction sector.

He will also consider how the government can establish protections for whistleblowers and complainants speaking up about allegations of criminal or unlawful practices within the sector, and will probe the state’s ability to remove individuals engaging in criminal or unlawful practices.

Union branches across the country have also been placed into administration. Picture: AFP

The review is being conducted in private, despite calls to be open to public hearings.

It is not yet known if the Premier has been interviewed as part of the review which is expected to probe her own handling of complaints made about criminal activity on government work sites.

“We will tear this rotten culture out by its roots – making sure our construction industry meets the expectations of the Victorian people,” Allan said in a statement announcing details of the review.

“Unions are meant to keep people safe. We are making sure that people coming forward with critical information about conduct on worksites have the complaints processes and protections they deserve.”

The allegations that prompted the review also led to the sudden resignation of former CFMEU boss John Setka, and an Australian Labor Party ban on donations from the CFMEU’s construction division.

Union branches across the country have also been placed into administration.

Referrals have also been made to Victoria Police and the Commissioner of the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC).