In February 2026, Victorian Opposition Leader Jess Wilson announced that, if elected at the November State Election, the Coalition would initiate a Royal Commission into the Big Build.

It followed sustained investigative reporting which highlighted extensive allegations of corruption in Victoria's major infrastructure projects.  

Seeking to differentiate himself from his predecessors and to mitigate further political fallout from corruption allegations related to the Big Build, newly appointed Premier Ben Carroll announced a Royal Commission into the Integrity of Major Public and Civil Infrastructure Construction Projects in Victoria on 20 August 2026.  

While it was initiated by media reporting largely focused on the CFMEU, previous Royal Commissions – including the 2014 Heydon Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption and Queensland's Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU in 2025 – have proven that it is possible for any organisation with any relationship to the organisations and projects under scrutiny to be brought into public view.

York Park Group's Thoughts

Over the coming months – and potentially years – the Royal Commission will uncover information that was never meant to be made public, and investigate issues organisations thought were inconsequential or had been dealt with internally.

There will be reputational impacts on organisations beyond those named so far; journalists will actively be seeking out new stories and angles and players, former employees may have information and examples they wish to publicise, online content will likely be shared broadly, and company leaders will be placed under intense scrutiny.

A risk for organisations is to take a legal only approach to considering or responding if and when they come into the purview of the Royal Commission, or are featured in media coverage or commentary.  

Communications should certainly never lead legal strategy, however it should be aligned and support legal advice to effectively mitigate potential reputation risks.

Things to Know

• The Victorian State Election will be held on 28 November 2026. Current polling predicts a change of government.

• The Commission has a $50 million budget; it’s due to provide its report to the Victorian Government by no later than 20 August 2027.

• Notices to produce have already been issued, including to Tier 1 contractors.

• The Commission will hold its first block of public hearings from Monday 9 November to Friday 20 November 2026.

• If elected, a Wilson Liberal Government will amend the Terms of Reference and increase the Commission's resources and timelines.

Things to consider

Risk identification: Organisations should look across their entire business – present and past – to consider all potential risks that could impact their reputation. This could include relationships with any named organisations or individuals, operations within the sector or related suppliers and providers, or involvement with major projects. Think broadly and comprehensively.
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Media and social media: As hearings begin, media will comprehensively follow the issues raised and will also look for new examples and players. Clips, documents and commentary from the hearings and event project sites will circulate on social media within minutes, often without context – and AI tools now make content creation easier that has the potential to go viral.
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Stakeholder positioning: Each participant in the Royal Commission will be seeking, in part, to manage their own reputation. Organisations’ goals will often not align. Organisations should expect to be named by others, and should monitor what other organisations are doing and consider the risk that their own approach poses to their business and stakeholder relationships.
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Internal emails: Many stories from a Royal Commission come from emails and texts that were never meant to be public. Organisations should assume anything distributed internally – past or present – could be read out in hearings and published.
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Marketing and communications throughout the Royal Commission hearings: Businesses do not stop during the hearings, so organisations need to align their messages and consider all activities and how they communicate them throughout the Royal Commission. The spotlight will never be brighter on business operations.
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Regulation is already moving: The Carroll Labor Government has introduced amendments to IBAC, and further integrity and procurement changes are likely whichever party governs. Organisations should consider opportunities to get ahead of potential changes, or be prepared to make the necessary changes. If there are concerns about the impact of any changes on the organisation, a rapid response to raise concerns will be important before any proposed change is confirmed.

Conclusion

Organisations not directly implicated in the Royal Commission but with the potential to be drawn into it should be monitoring the hearings closely and preparing an Issues Management Plan.

A Royal Commission with a strong public interest platform puts every decision on public display, and clear planning and communications strategies that support legal advice can effectively mitigate potential reputation risks.