State government review of troubled construction sector to report back within six weeks

Former Department of Justice secretary Greg Wilson will lead a state government review of Victoria’s troubled construction sector amid allegations that bikies and underworld figures have held key union positions on government infrastructure projects.

The Allan government confirmed late on Saturday afternoon that the experienced bureaucrat, who was most recently the acting commissioner of the Victorian Public Sector watchdog, would deliver an interim report to the government within six weeks.

Wilson’s report is expected to include recommendations about what needs to be done to stamp out alleged unlawful conduct in the construction sector, including on the state’s Big Build sites.

The government’s announcement was made in response to a series of stories by this masthead, The Australian Financial Review and 60 Minutes into illegal and unethical behaviour at taxpayer-funded worksites.

Former CFMEU secretary John Setka resigned ahead of the publication of the first story in the months-long investigation, and the union put its Victorian branch into administration on Monday.

The Allan government said on Saturday that its independent review would deliver an interim report by August 29 – to be released publicly – and a final report by late November.

Wilson has been tasked with investigating any gaps or limitations in the current powers of Victorian institutions or laws when it comes to responding to allegations of criminal or other unlawful conduct in the state’s construction sector. He is also expected to make recommendations on how Victorian watchdogs can co-operate better with their Commonwealth counterparts.

Premier Jacinta Allan said on Saturday that the development showed she was continuing to take action to stamp out unlawful behaviour.

“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 released late Saturday afternoon.

“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.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Allan were separately sent detailed evidence in 2022 that CFMEU officials were threatening extreme violence on state- and federal-funded projects, this masthead revealed on Tuesday, and it took the then deputy premier a year to reply.

More than 20 CFMEU members – some with links to organised crime – have been stood down by the union’s Victorian branch.

The Victorian Labor Party is expected to miss out on hundreds of thousands of dollars in affiliation fees now that the CFMEU’s construction division has been suspended from the party.

Victorian Labor has pocketed almost $700,000 in affiliation payments in the past five years.

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