Victoria’s Royal Commission into the Integrity of Major Public and Civil Infrastructure Construction Projects met for the first time in public today. It will examine allegations of corruption, criminal conduct and other serious misconduct connected to major public infrastructure projects, including Victoria’s Big Build.

Today’s opening hearing was short and technical, but it included two important signals about how this closely-watched inquiry could unfold.

First, that it is willing to move fast to hold all relevant groups in the Victorian construction sector to account.

Second, that this inquiry will likely go right to the top, potentially including the public questioning of former Victorian premier Jacinta Allan.

This royal commission was set up by the new Victorian premier, Ben Carroll. His government has given the commission a broad remit to investigate allegations of corruption, criminal conduct and serious misconduct across the state’s building sector.

To carry out this remit, it has a broad........

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