The explosive fallout from allegations of government interference in a major hospital construction project has reached fever pitch in Victoria, with Health Infrastructure Minister Melissa Horne publicly breaking ranks with Premier Jacinta Allan over what she described as “alarming” claims. The dispute centres on a report by the Nine newspapers, which alleged that officials pressured public servants to remove a plastering contractor from the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear hospital project due to a dispute with the CFMEU at the time.
Despite Premier Allan's firm rejection of these claims on Tuesday morning, stating “Those reports are wrong, and there is no evidence or basis for that claim,” Minister Horne has sought assurances from the head of the Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority (VIDA) in a letter published on her social media account. Horne acknowledged that neither she nor her office had any contact with the CFMEU since her appointment as Minister for Health Infrastructure and highlighted steps already taken by the Allan government to safeguard infrastructure projects, including enhanced powers for the Labour Hire Authority.
In her letter to VIDA, Minister Horne explicitly asked for assurance that the authority had not directed the removal of any contractors or sub-contractors on health infrastructure projects, unless legally permitted. She also sought advice on “further steps” to bolster oversight of subcontractors, including additional checks prior to appointments. This move has sparked concerns about a potential rift within the state government just months before the November election.
The controversy unfolds against a backdrop where leaders of a police taskforce, established by the Victorian government to combat corruption on major infrastructure projects, are still grappling with the scale of the issue. The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear hospital project, which was completed in 2024, is just one example of the alleged impropriety within the 'Big Build' programme.