Victoria's $100bn 'Big Build' infrastructure programme, touted as the largest in the state's history, is being overshadowed by corruption allegations involving the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU). The Labour government's flagship transport projects have become embroiled in claims that gangland figures and bikie-linked operators are securing lucrative contracts.
Allegations of massive budget blowouts have been linked to the CFMEU's allegedly corrupt influence on major projects. The government has long promoted the long-term benefits of the infrastructure boom, but the scandal is increasingly threatening to derail its political standing.
Premier Jacinta Allan, who previously served as transport infrastructure minister overseeing the Big Build, has defended the government's actions and rejected growing calls for a royal commission into the matter. She has insisted that the government is taking appropriate steps to address the allegations.
However, questions are mounting over how much the government knew about the alleged corruption and the ultimate cost to taxpayers. The scandal continues to unfold, putting pressure on the Allan administration as it seeks to maintain public trust in the state's major infrastructure projects.
