The Rotten Core of Infrastructure Dreams: When Big Build Turns Into Big Trouble
There’s something deeply unsettling about watching a grand vision like Victoria’s $109 billion Big Build program unravel into a tangled mess of allegations, backroom deals, and outright corruption. Personally, I think this isn’t just a story about mismanaged funds or union strong-arming—it’s a cautionary tale about what happens when power, politics, and profit collide in the shadows. What makes this particularly fascinating is how it exposes the fragility of public trust in mega-projects, especially when they’re sold as the solution to all our infrastructure woes.
The Gap Road Saga: A Microcosm of Larger Failures
Let’s start with the Gap Road level crossing removal project in Sunbury. On the surface, it’s a straightforward infrastructure upgrade. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find a web of coercion, alleged bribes, and ministerial interference that reads like a political thriller. Insiders claim the Labor government secretly backed disgraced CFMEU boss Joe Myles as he strong-armed contractors into ceding control to his union. One thing that immediately stands out is the alleged threat: if the consortium didn’t play ball, they’d lose out on the lucrative Melbourne Airport Rail project.
From my perspective, this isn’t just about union muscle flexing—it’s about systemic failure. The Building Code 2016 and the Fair Work Act were supposed to prevent exactly this kind of coercion. But what this really suggests is that when enough money and political clout are at stake, rules become suggestions. What many people don’t realize is how often these mega-projects become playgrounds for power brokers, where public interest takes a backseat to private gain.
The Premier’s Dilemma: Denial or Complicity?
Premier Jacinta Allan has repeatedly denied her office’s involvement in these backroom deals. But here’s where it gets interesting: Professor David Hayward, once relied upon by the government to downplay corruption claims, has now flipped the script. He’s calling for a Queensland-style commission of inquiry, arguing that ‘a lot of public money’ has ended up ‘in the wrong hands.’ If you take a step back and think about it, this isn’t just a political embarrassment—it’s a damning indictment of how the Big Build program has been managed.
In my opinion, Allan’s denials ring hollow. Whether her office was directly involved or simply turned a blind eye, the result is the same: taxpayer money has been squandered, and public trust eroded. This raises a deeper question: how many other projects are hiding similar skeletons in their closets?
The Union’s Playbook: Influence, Coercion, and Spin
The CFMEU’s role in all this is both predictable and alarming. Joe Myles, the union’s former Big Build official, was reportedly the architect of the Gap Road takeover. His wife, Elizabeth Doidge, the CFMEU’s ex-political liaison officer, defended the union’s ties to Labor as ‘entirely appropriate.’ A detail that I find especially interesting is her admission that the union worked to influence procurement laws.
What this really suggests is that the CFMEU wasn’t just lobbying—it was shaping the rules of the game. And while union sources claim Myles’ campaign was about worker safety, the timing is hard to ignore. Before the CFMEU’s takeover, the site was controlled by the weaker Australian Workers’ Union. It’s hard not to see this as a power grab disguised as advocacy.
The Broader Implications: When Privatization Fails
Professor Hayward’s critique goes beyond the Big Build scandal. He argues that privatizing infrastructure hasn’t delivered the promised efficiency or savings. Instead, we’ve seen cost overruns, questionable characters, and profits prioritized over public good. Personally, I think this hits at the heart of a global trend: the myth of privatization as a panacea for public sector inefficiency.
If you take a step back and think about it, the Big Build scandal is a symptom of a larger problem. When governments outsource their responsibilities to private entities without robust oversight, corruption becomes almost inevitable. This isn’t just a Victorian issue—it’s a warning for anyone who believes privatization is the answer to our infrastructure challenges.
Looking Ahead: Can Trust Be Restored?
The calls for an independent inquiry are growing louder, and for good reason. But even if a commission is established, the damage is already done. Public trust in the Big Build program—and by extension, the government’s ability to deliver on its promises—has been shattered.
In my opinion, restoring that trust will require more than just accountability. It will demand a fundamental rethink of how these mega-projects are planned, executed, and overseen. Transparency, independent oversight, and a commitment to the public good must become non-negotiable.
Final Thoughts
The Big Build scandal is more than just a political headache for Premier Allan—it’s a wake-up call for all of us. It forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about power, corruption, and the limits of privatization. Personally, I think this is an opportunity to rebuild not just infrastructure, but the systems that govern it.
What this really suggests is that the dream of a better, more connected Victoria is still possible—but only if we’re willing to learn from our mistakes. And that starts with asking the hard questions, demanding accountability, and refusing to settle for anything less than integrity in public service.
