A Big Build royal commission helped Ben Carroll become premier. Will it be his downfall?

Two weeks of public hearings are set to commence on Monday, coinciding with Victoria's state election campaign. The royal commission into Victoria's Big Build is poised to be a point of contention. For the Labor Party, the timing is anything but ideal, as the inquiry risks highlighting allegations of corruption and infiltration within government projects.

Their leader, Ben Carroll, faces questions over the actions of his predecessors and the potential stain of his own past. Labor insiders fear the scrutiny could prove damaging, with the party's campaign bus proclaiming "new premier, new direction." The inquiry's timing was likely chosen by Carroll himself, who made it a cornerstone of his premiership.

In contrast, the Coalition sees this as an opportunity to exploit the unfolding controversy. As the commission's hearings begin, the political landscape of Victoria is set to be forever altered.