Victoria’s Big Build was supposed to be just another, if very expensive, road and rail infrastructure project. But it’s been plagued by violence, intimidation and organised criminal behaviour.

An independent investigation has shown organised crime and outlaw motorcycle gangs penetrated major government building projects via the CFMEU (the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union), driving up costs through extortion, fixed procurement deals and “ghost shifts” – labour hire companies charging for shifts that were never worked.

This corruption has reportedly cost Victorian taxpayers around $15 billion, but the Allan government disputes this sum.

Premier Jacinta Allan has said she is “deeply sorry” and admitted that criminals have infiltrated some of Victoria’s largest construction projects. The CFMEU was placed into administration in 2024.

But the headlines keep coming. With the Allan government under significant political pressure for its handling of the issue, corruption is likely to be a big issue in the looming November state election.

What do we know so far?

A report by the investigator of the CFMEU, Geoffrey Watson, found there was both ad hoc corruption by former organisers and delegates, and systemic........

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