CFMEU scandal ‘semantics’ further proof of zero-tolerance furphy

May 19, 2026 — 7:30pm

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When is zero tolerance not zero tolerance?

That is what anyone who has listened to Premier Jacinta Allan and her ministers answering questions about corruption on Victoria’s Big Build has to ask themselves.

In February this year, Allan released to the public a letter she had written in July 2024 – after The Age began publishing its bombshell Building Bad series – addressed to the state’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission. This letter, she maintained, was proof of her government’s seriousness in confronting alleged wrongdoing on its signature infrastructure projects.

Except that it was nothing of the sort. It was a Clayton’s referral. As former IBAC commissioner Robert Redlich noted at the time, “it should have been well known to the premier and her officers assisting her that IBAC’s jurisdiction is limited to investigating misconduct by public officials … and so we come to a massive area of corruption in which IBAC can currently play no role”.

Before 2024 ended, Allan was reminded of this fact by IBAC.........

© The Age