Big Build reform sat idle for more than six months
A secret review into corruption risks on Victoria’s $109 billion Big Build was not put into action for more than six months, increasing pressure on Premier Jacinta Allan as calls grow for a royal commission.
The Herald Sun reported on 19th July 2026 that former VicRoads boss John Merritt conducted the review. Union and industry figures joined that work, which was ordered to clean up Big Build sites.
Labor MPs told the Herald Sun the reforms were delayed by “bureaucracy and interference”. According to those MPs, ministers then bypassed the Premier’s office to push through changes.
Those changes included a supply chain register and a register of approved industrial relations “fixers”. Ministers pushed those measures through after months of delay.
Merritt review withheld
The Allan government has refused to release the Merritt review in full. That decision has added to scrutiny of how ministers handled integrity concerns on major projects.
On Sunday 19th July 2026, Allan rejected calls for a royal commission into the Big Build. She said such a move would mean “delayed action, not immediate action”.
In June 2026, Family First’s Jane Foreman called for a royal commission. Her demand followed comments from former IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich and former Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass.
Redlich and Glass both argued that only a royal commission could expose the full extent of corruption on the $109 billion programme. Their comments strengthened demands for an external inquiry rather than an internal review.
On 17th July 2026, Family First highlighted separate revelations about bikie-linked brothers Zack and Jake Boyer. The party said the pair won subcontracts on two taxpayer-funded projects.
One subcontract related to a $94 million prison expansion. The other involved a $44 million social housing project opened by Premier Allan.
Those revelations came two days before the Herald Sun report on the Merritt review delay. As a result, the government faced fresh scrutiny over contractor vetting and project oversight.
The Herald Sun’s 19th July 2026 report said the review took more than six months to be put into action. Labor MPs also claimed ministers were bypassing the Premier’s office to advance basic reforms.
Victorians will vote in November 2026. Family First is seeking to elect its first members to the Legislative Council at that poll.
