Victorian Royal Commission Hearings Highlight CFMEU Influence on Sunbury Level Crossing
The Victorian Royal Commission into the Integrity of Major Public and Civil Infrastructure Construction Projects heard evidence that the Construction, Forestry and Manufacturing Employees Union (CFMEU) exercised significant influence over a 2022 level-crossing removal project, raising concerns about union interference and cost impacts. Earlier testimony indicated the union’s control of traffic-management on the Sunbury Gap Road rail project could have added more than $400 million to the Big Build programme.
The commission, which began a two-week block of public hearings on the Gap Road level crossing, has been probing alleged collusion between the state government and the CFMEU, as well as the role of labour-hire firms and former transport minister Jacinta Allan. Opposition leader Jess Wilson pledged to retain and expand Infrastructure Victoria, while Premier Ben Carroll said he would abolish the body, drawing political scrutiny as the hearings commenced ahead of the state election.
