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By Newzyy Staff — 21m ago
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has strongly criticised the state’s opposition over comments dismissing the newly established royal commission into the construction industry as a “cover up.”
Speaking at a press conference in Geelong, Carroll addressed remarks by Shadow Attorney-General James Newbury, who described the inquiry as a “cover up commission” and suggested former premiers Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan would not be compelled to appear. Carroll rejected those claims, stating the royal commissioner could summon anyone deemed relevant, including the former Labor leaders. He emphasised the breadth of the terms of reference and the urgency with which the commission had been established.
Carroll described Newbury’s remarks as politically motivated and damaging to public trust in the opposition. “The more Mr Newbury – as the alternative attorney general – is in the media, the better for us,” he said. He accused the opposition of lacking experience and sophistication, arguing their focus on politics undermined the seriousness of the inquiry. “This is a serious matter for Victorians. This isn’t about politics,” Carroll stated.
The premier reiterated his commitment to ensuring the inquiry uncovered all necessary information, framing it as a non-partisan effort to address public concerns.
The Australian Federal Police will hold a press conference in Canberra today following the arrest of a dual Russian-Australian citizen charged with foreign interference offences. The 27-year-old Victorian man was detained in Sumner, Queensland, on Thursday by the Counter Foreign Interference Task Force and is expected to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court today.
Meanwhile, a parliamentary inquiry into the 2025 election campaign has heard testimony from Plymouth Brethren Church director Luke Grimshaw, who denied allegations that the church funded members to volunteer or travel during the election. Grimshaw stated there was no coordinated campaign involving payments to activists.