Big Build royal commission LIVE updates: Gap Road project probe continues after John Holland managers discuss secret CFMEU meetings

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Schelle, C. (2026, November 10). Big Build royal commission LIVE updates: Gap Road project probe continues after John Holland managers discuss secret CFMEU meetings. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/big-build-royal-commission-live-updates-gap-road-project-probe-continues-after-john-holland-managers-discuss-secret-cfmeu-meetings-20261111-p61d1q.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed

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Quick Summary

The royal commission into the Big Build program is continuing its investigation of the Gap Road level crossing removal project in Sunbury. The focus is on events from June 2022 when the CFMEU gained significant influence over the $109 billion Big Build program. Counsel assisting Chris Young KC emphasized that all witnesses were compelled to testify and provided evidence about difficult times during their working lives.

Written by AI on 2026-11-11, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

As of November 10, 2026, Victoria's Royal Commission into the Integrity of Major Public and Civil Infrastructure Construction Projects has begun public hearings to investigate corruption allegations in the Big Build, a $100 billion construction project. The commission, led by Commissioner Christopher Kourakis AC, is focusing on the Gap Road level crossing removal project in Sunbury for its first two weeks of hearings. Over 110,000 documents have already been reviewed, and secret preliminary hearings were held prior to the public sessions beginning November 9.

The commission heard testimony that construction company managers at John Holland discussed secret meetings with the CFMEU, revealing the union's significant influence over government decisions. The CFMEU reportedly pressured labor hire companies BK and CCL to donate to the Victorian Labor Party, after which both firms were placed on the Gap Road project despite higher costs.

The hearings will continue to examine how corruption may have infiltrated the Big Build and assess whether the state government had adequate oversight of these projects. The first block of hearings run until November 20 at Level 9, 54 Wellington Street in Collingwood, with livestreams available for those unable to attend in person.

Written for “Big Build Royal Commission Investigations” on 2026-11-11, grounded in this article and the 8 other(s) covering the same event.

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No political leaning scored for article 143188 · logged 2026-11-11

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Big Build Royal Commission Investigations

Politics · 9 article(s) covering the same event. See how they differ ↓

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 0% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

CFMEU ‘enjoy a significant level of influence’ over Victorian government, Big Build royal commission hears Same event

The Guardian

Hedges 6 of 42 claims Outlet record 65/100

Big Build royal commission LIVE updates: First Gap Road level project witnesses to testify at construction royal commission Same event

The Sydney Morning Herald

Hedges 0 of 3 claims Outlet record 61/100

Victoria's Big Build inquiry hears CFMEU threatened to 'smash' subcontractor Different event

ABC News (AU)

Hedges 0 of 24 claims Outlet record 67/100

“The articles refer to different days of hearings within a broader inquiry about the same incident (CFMEU's involvement at Sunbury level crossing removal site in June 2022), but do not describe the exact same specific event or hearing.”

What to expect from Victoria's construction corruption royal commission Different event

ABC News (AU)

Leans left Hedges 4 of 22 claims Outlet record 67/100

“Article A discusses the general overview of the royal commission into construction corruption in Victoria, while Article B provides live updates specifically about the Gap Road project probe during the hearings.”

Live: Victoria's Big Build royal commission gets underway Different event

ABC News (AU)

Leans left Hedges 1 of 14 claims Outlet record 67/100

“The articles refer to different days of hearings in the Victoria's Big Build royal commission, with Article B covering a later date and more specific focus on the Gap Road project.”

‘Do deal or lose work’: Minister’s office freeze-out threat to builder over union disputes Different event

The Sydney Morning Herald

Hedges 4 of 43 claims Outlet record 61/100

“While both articles discuss the CFMEU's involvement in a Big Build project, Article A focuses on threats and negotiations regarding future projects, while Article B discusses ongoing royal commission hearings specifically about the Gap Road project.”

Dozens of CFMEU stoppages in a week before rail site takeover, hearing told Different event

ABC News (AU)

Hedges 3 of 33 claims Outlet record 67/100

“The articles describe different hearings or focus on distinct aspects of the Big Build project, with one mentioning dozens of stoppages at Sunbury level crossing and another focusing on secret CFMEU meetings related to Gap Road project.”

Big Build royal commission LIVE updates: Big Build project, CFMEU under microscope as state’s long-awaited construction royal commission begins Different event

The Sydney Morning Herald

Leans left Hedges 2 of 22 claims Outlet record 61/100

“The articles discuss different stages of the royal commission: one mentions early statistics and potential calls for evidence, while the other focuses on a later phase examining specific events related to the Gap Road project.”

CFMEU’s guiding of company cash to Labor under microscope Different event

The Sydney Morning Herald

Leans strongly right Hedges 1 of 32 claims Outlet record 61/100

“While both articles discuss CFMEU's involvement in the Gap Road level crossing project, Article A describes the union's influence over company donations and subsequent placement on the project, while Article B reports on a royal commission probe focusing on secret meetings regarding the same project. These appear to be related but distinct events.”

Fast-talking, sure-footed and not copping a failure to comply Different event

The Sydney Morning Herald

Leans right Hedges 1 of 33 claims Outlet record 61/100

“The articles describe different days of hearings related to the same broader investigation but focus on distinct aspects or time periods.”

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0 of 7 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

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takes no side on a contested political question

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61/100

The Sydney Morning Herald's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

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Claims (7 extracted, 0 hedged)

It is expected the commission will continue to call witnesses today, after a bombshell day on Tuesday. asserted

commission → expect → Tuesday

The identities of the witnesses cannot be published ahead of their appearance, but the commission made clear that this two-week hearing block will focus solely on the Gap Road level crossing removal project in Sunbury. asserted

block → publish → Sunbury

More specifically, it will be looking at the events of June 2022, when the CFMEU effectively muscled its way onto the project and into the heart of the $109 billion Big Build program. asserted

CFMEU → look → program

Crucially, counsel assisting Chris Young KC reminded those who attended in person and those watching, the witnesses were compelled to provide evidence. asserted

witnesses → assist → evidence

Here’s what he said: asserted

he → ’ → what

All of the witnesses that we have heard from ... have been compelled to attend, the evidence that they have given has no doubt been difficult, and it has been difficult for them to revisit difficult times and events during their working lives. asserted

them → hear → lives

They had no choice about giving the evidence that they gave today.” asserted

they → have → that

Big Build royal commission LIVE updates: Gap Road project probe continues after John Holland managers discuss secret CFMEU meetings

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Claims (7 extracted, 0 hedged)