Benita Kolovos

Victorian premier Ben Carroll has formally established a royal commission into the integrity of major public and civil infrastructure construction projects, appointing former South Australian chief justice Chris Kourakis as commissioner with coercive powers, a $50 million budget and a reporting deadline of 20 August 2027. The inquiry will investigate alleged corruption, criminal conduct and serious misconduct involving the CFMEU, construction companies, contractors and labour-hire firms, as well as the oversight responsibilities of government departments and project agencies. Carroll said the commission could call current and former premiers, ministers, officials, union leaders and executives, while opposition MP James Newbury accused the government of using the inquiry as an election-time political fix. The CFMEU said it would cooperate and urged investigators to examine misconduct across the entire industry. Carroll also plans legislation for a special prosecutor and expanded anti-corruption powers before the November state election.

Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog found serious and concerning conduct by senior members of Daniel Andrews’s former government during negotiations with United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall over fire-service pay deals and the later amalgamation of the CFA and MFB. The report identified policy breaches, concealment, misuse of information, an apparently staged meeting and Marshall’s extraordinary influence, but did not substantiate claims that he blackmailed Andrews or meet Victoria’s threshold for corrupt conduct. Andrews defended the decisions as necessary for public safety, while Marshall said the findings vindicated him. Opposition leader Jess Wilson accused Labor of systemic corruption and called for departmental secretary Tony Bates to be sacked; Premier Ben Carroll said he would act on the report’s recommendations.

Warren Pickering, One Nation’s newly announced Victorian leader, previously said mass deportations were not realistic and would not occur in Western countries, despite supporting the party’s stated goal of deporting 75,000 visa overstayers. His comments raise questions about the meaning and feasibility of Pauline Hanson’s signature policy, which she has endorsed without explaining how it would work. Pickering also acknowledged that One Nation has used “ghost candidates”—largely inactive nominees—to help maximize Senate votes and public funding. His criticism of older politicians is notable given the ages of Hanson and other senior One Nation figures. One Nation’s exclusion of several media outlets from its candidate announcement further intensified scrutiny of the party.

One Nation has announced eight Victorian election candidates ahead of the November state poll, with Victorian president Warren Pickering moving from a planned upper-house run to contesting the marginal lower-house seat of Pakenham. The lineup includes former Liberal Colleen Harkin, animation executive Mark Nicholson, Geelong councillor Chris Burson and incumbent MP Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell. Pauline Hanson has barred the ABC and Guardian from party press conferences, accusing them of unfair coverage, while the Guardian defended media access and scrutiny as essential to democracy. The party says it will contest every seat and release policies shortly. New legislation introduced by premier Ben Carroll to abolish group voting tickets could affect One Nation's upper-house prospects if its strong polling continues.

New Victorian premier Ben Carroll has not ruled out reviewing the Suburban Rail Loop or redirecting billions of dollars committed to it toward other projects. The federal government has allocated $6bn to the project, while Victoria has committed about $11.8bn to its first stage and signed $14.5bn in contracts. A Parliamentary Budget Office costing found cancellation could improve Victoria’s budget position by $21bn over a decade, despite $1.8bn in termination fees. Carroll also indicated he may seek changes to Jacinta Allan’s bill guaranteeing eligible workers two days of working from home each week. Opposition leader Jess Wilson has promised to pause and review the rail project if the Coalition wins the November election.

Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews publicly endorsed new premier Ben Carroll, saying he and his team can win the November state election, while praising former premier Jacinta Allan’s decades of service. Carroll became premier after Allan resigned before a planned leadership challenge, amid poor polling, internal Labor discontent and corruption allegations linked to the construction union and the government’s Big Build. His first measures include legislation to abolish group voting tickets and a royal commission into the construction sector, though opposition leader Jess Wilson says the proposed inquiry could be a cover-up. Carroll also signalled that cabinet will consider the Suburban Rail Loop but said he would not cancel existing contracts.

Ben Carroll has become Victoria’s premier after Jacinta Allan resigned, citing the need to avoid a prolonged leadership contest before the state election. His first major act was announcing a royal commission into alleged corruption in the construction sector, along with a special prosecutor and expanded powers for the state anti-corruption watchdog to follow public money paid to private contractors. Carroll pledged a different approach from Allan and former premier Daniel Andrews, while Allan gave him her unqualified support. The transition exposed deep Labor divisions, including a briefly declared leadership challenge by attorney general Sonya Kilkenny, and followed months of poor polling, rising One Nation support and criticism of Allan’s handling of alleged wrongdoing linked to the Big Build.

Ben Carroll, Victoria’s former deputy premier and education minister, became premier after Jacinta Allan resigned, just months before the state election. First elected for Niddrie in 2012, Carroll built a reputation for ambition and successfully forced his way into the deputy leadership in 2023. His education tenure included strong NAPLAN results and mandatory phonics classes, but was also marked by examination errors, the VCE “cheat sheet” leak and a protracted dispute with teachers. His elevation follows Labor’s poor polling, concerns about organised crime allegations involving the Big Build and pressure to improve the party’s economic standing. Carroll is reportedly sympathetic to a royal commission into construction-sector corruption and will face immediate challenges restoring public confidence and resolving industrial disputes.

Ben Carroll has become Victoria’s new premier after Labor MPs elected him during a chaotic caucus meeting. He replaces Jacinta Allan, who resigned after several difficult months marked by falling poll numbers and pressure from a resurgent One Nation ahead of Victoria’s November state election. The podcast examines how the leadership change unfolded and whether Carroll can restore Labor’s electoral prospects.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Deputy Premier Ben Carroll have both declared they will stand in a leadership ballot, despite Allan being told by cross-factional ministers and Labor factional leaders that she lacks majority caucus support. If a spill proceeds and multiple candidates nominate, Victoria’s Labor leadership process could take up to six weeks, with caucus and rank-and-file members each holding 50% of the voting weight. Because Carroll is the deputy and a candidate, Labor would need to appoint an interim leader during the contest, creating significant uncertainty for the government just four months before the state election.

Jacinta Allan’s leadership is under severe pressure after Labor factional figures and ministers urged her to resign, citing poor polling, weak public approval and concerns that the party cannot win November’s election under her leadership. The central grievance is her refusal to establish a royal commission into alleged corruption linked to Victoria’s Big Build, despite calls from ministers and backbenchers who say the issue has overshadowed government achievements and damaged Labor’s credibility. Deputy premier Ben Carroll has announced he will challenge Allan and says he would establish a royal commission if elected, although supporters of Allan warn that an inquiry could prolong damaging media coverage. Even a leadership change may not be enough to overcome voter fatigue after three terms in government.

The Guardian’s live coverage reports comedian Nikki Osborne’s claim that Anthony Albanese’s controversial “shag, marry, date” exchange involving Kylie Minogue was taken out of context, despite Albanese’s unequivocal apology. It also follows the nationwide AusAlert emergency-warning test, which reached 94% of targeted cell towers but failed on some devices and raised concerns about hidden phones used by people escaping domestic violence. Other major developments include Jacinta Allan losing majority caucus support in Victoria, NSW ICAC hearings into alleged Liberal Party branch stacking and improper donations linked to property developer Jean Nassif and Toplace, Pauline Hanson losing her appeal against a racial-discrimination finding, legal action by Kumanjayi White’s family over his death in custody, suspected bird flu cases in South Australia, and continuing scrutiny of police and counter-terrorism preparedness after the Bondi attack.

Victorian deputy premier Ben Carroll has confirmed he will challenge Jacinta Allan for the Victorian Labor leadership after cross-factional MPs told Allan she had lost caucus support. Allan refused to resign and formally indicated she would contest any ballot, potentially triggering a weeks-long vote split equally between parliamentary MPs and rank-and-file party members. The challenge comes four months before the state election amid poor polling, weak approval ratings, rising support for One Nation and criticism of the government’s handling of organised crime concerns involving the construction sector. If elected, Carroll is expected to pursue a royal commission, address a public-school teachers’ pay dispute and improve Labor’s economic standing.

The Victorian Greens plan to campaign on a new land-tax bracket for investment property holdings worth more than $5m, using the estimated revenue to double public housing and abolish stamp duty for first-home buyers. Inspired partly by New York mayor Zohran Mamdani and overseas Green leaders, Ellen Sandell argues the policy can offer a hopeful alternative as Labor support falls. Polling and increased volunteer activity suggest potential gains, but academics warn that protest votes may instead flow to One Nation, particularly in outer suburbs where the Greens face a negative image on immigration and progressive social issues.

Victoria Police closed its investigation into Moira Deeming’s allegation that fellow Victorian Liberal MP Matthew Guy assaulted her at a community event, concluding that no offence was detected. Guy, who says CCTV disproves the claim, demanded apologies from Deeming, Premier Jacinta Allan and Attorney General Sonya Kilkenny, while Liberal leader Jess Wilson supported his request. Deeming was overseas and had not commented. The allegation and its handling have intensified pressure on Wilson and exposed renewed tensions within the Victorian Liberal Party ahead of the state election.

Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming has accused colleague Matthew Guy of assaulting her at a Macedonian community event in Sunshine on 23 May, in an incident allegedly shown on CCTV. Guy vehemently denies the allegation and is reportedly considering defamation action. Victoria Police confirmed an ongoing investigation, saying the woman involved did not require medical attention. Liberal leader Jess Wilson has cited due process and the presumption of innocence, while Attorney General Sonya Kilkenny and Premier Jacinta Allan are demanding answers about the party’s handling of the complaint. The allegation adds pressure to the Liberal Party five months before the Victorian election, amid continuing internal divisions and competition from One Nation.

A Victorian hate crime inquiry heard that international students and other gay and bisexual men are being lured through dating apps, assaulted, filmed and extorted with threats that humiliating footage will be sent to family members overseas. Support services reported that victims from countries where homosexuality is illegal are especially vulnerable and often avoid police because of fear, mistrust and the consequences of being outed. Police have identified 95 attacks across Victoria since June 2024, leading to 42 arrests, while witnesses said the true number is likely higher. The inquiry is also examining the role of far-right manosphere influencers, with experts warning that online networks may be encouraging increasingly organized homophobic violence.

Jackie O Henderson will continue her $82m legal claim against ARN Media and Kiis FM, while Kyle Sandilands has discontinued his case after reportedly settling for $12m. The day’s other major developments included a scathing audit of Snowy Hydro’s cost overruns and project-management failures, falling Australian migration and net overseas migration, and Labor concessions to its proposed capital-gains-tax reforms. Pauline Hanson faced condemnation from journalists, the Asylum Seekers Centre and political opponents over attacks on the media and her monoculturalism speech, while Gina Rinehart publicly backed her. The blog also reported on allegations of abuse by Israeli soldiers against Australian Gaza flotilla members, a shark-attack victim’s continuing critical condition, Vodafone outages, and Qantas delaying its nonstop Sydney–London service until October 2027.

Victoria recorded its first annual crime-rate decline since 2022, falling 1.9% in the year to March 2026, while alleged youth offences dropped 6%. However, adult crime rose 10%, theft increased 6.3%, and car theft remained at its highest level since 2001–02. In New South Wales, overall crime was mostly stable, but shoplifting rose 9.1% and other stealing offences increased 3.1%, driven partly by a 27% rise in e-bike theft. NSW court appearances and prison numbers also increased, with officials attributing higher charges largely to stronger police enforcement rather than increased offending.

The Guardian’s live Australian news blog concludes with the National Press Club referring a banner stunt during Pauline Hanson’s speech to the Australian Federal Police, which is investigating alleged unauthorised access and equipment interference. Hanson used the address to promote a monocultural Australia, oppose multiculturalism and transgender rights, and propose major changes to SBS and the ABC, drawing condemnation from Sarah Hanson-Young and housing advocates. Other major developments included the deaths of two children struck by a vehicle in Cabramatta, the refusal of bail for Zeinab Ahmad over alleged slavery offences, reduced damages for former Don Dale detainees, and the rejection of a welfare-debt appeal. The blog also covered a threatened eviction of the Waterloo public-housing protest camp, childcare wage funding, revised Middle East travel advice, support for shark-attack survivor Leah Stewart, and strong Australian retail demand for SpaceX shares.

Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary Luke Hilakari defended publicly identifying 23 Labor MPs and candidates who recorded no constituent conversations during the first two weeks of June. He warned that MPs who fail to campaign harder against One Nation should not expect union support, including campaigning resources in marginal seats. Premier Jacinta Allan and Attorney General Sonya Kilkenny said the data did not capture all forms of community engagement, while other Labor candidates recorded substantial voter contact. Hilakari said many MPs welcomed the intervention but argued private warnings had failed and that Labor needed to act urgently before the November election.

Two men were arrested after Victoria and New South Wales police searched seven properties as part of Operation Summit, which is investigating how fugitive Dezi Freeman was supported during the seven months he was on the run. Police believe Freeman travelled between the two states after killing two officers and injuring another at Porepunkah in August 2025. One arrested man was released pending further investigation, while the other was detained on unrelated outstanding warrants. Police seized electronic devices and are seeking information about people who may have helped Freeman before he was killed by police at a remote property near the Victorian-NSW border in March 2026.

Police in Victoria and New South Wales arrested two men and executed seven warrants while investigating the movements of Dezi Freeman, who is accused of fatally shooting two police officers in Porepunkah. The Reserve Bank held the cash rate at 4.35% but warned that inflation remains too high and further tightening is possible; Governor Michele Bullock said growth should slow rather than contract and that employment remains a key consideration. The Bureau of Meteorology declared an El Niño event underway, warning of hotter and drier conditions in parts of Australia. Other developments included federal police inquiries into allegations from Australian members of the Global Sumud flotilla, renewed warnings from Australia Post about dog attacks on postal workers, opposition from Victorian business groups to a legislated right to work from home, and findings that prisoners in New South Wales were unlawfully confined to cells for up to three months.

Hancock Prospecting, owned by Gina Rinehart, reportedly invested about $1bn in Elon Musk’s SpaceX after the company began trading on sharemarkets, citing confidence in Musk, Starlink and SpaceX’s artificial-intelligence prospects. The live coverage also reports that a Coogee swimmer, Leah Stewart, remained critically ill after a shark attack, while experts questioned whether shark culls improve beach safety. Other developments include Australian leaders welcoming a US–Iran agreement, Queensland’s confirmation that John Farnham’s “Two Strong Hearts” was not banned under hate-speech laws, Australia and the UK moving to restrict social media access for under-16s, and Victoria announcing device-free time in secondary schools. KPMG agreed to stop bidding for new Commonwealth contracts during an independent governance review, while an Ugg retailer paid a $39,600 penalty over allegedly misleading “Was/Is” pricing. Housing and industry groups warned that tax increases could reduce investment and housing supply, whereas Greens senator Barbara Pocock called for changes to capital-gains-tax concessions and negative gearing.

Victoria will require state secondary schools to build device-free learning into classroom programs from term 1, 2027, with expected screen use capped at two hours a day. The policy follows tighter limits for primary students and will also expand existing smartphone restrictions to smartwatches and headphones. Education Minister Ben Carroll says the measures aim to improve behaviour, calmness and student mental health, while exemptions will apply to students who rely on technology and to specialist subjects. Academic Melinda Davis supports the direction but warns that teachers may face significant challenges managing students who lose regular access to devices.

A 35-year-old woman was critically but stably injured after being bitten by a shark about 30 metres offshore at Coogee Beach while swimming between the flags. Experts believe the animal was probably a rarely seen white shark, distinguishing the incident from summer attacks in warmer, murkier waters that were attributed to bull sharks. They say the bite was likely driven by curiosity or defensiveness rather than deliberate hunting. The NSW government is considering expanded shark monitoring, including AI-enabled drones, tracking and tagging, and has temporarily relaxed drone restrictions, while also leaving a cull under consideration. Researchers say there is no evidence that culling prevents shark bites and instead recommend public education, surveillance technology and avoiding higher-risk conditions such as dawn, dusk, river mouths, murky water and periods after heavy rainfall.