Wednesday 10 September 2025

Shadow Minister for Small Business, Industrial Relations and Employment Tim Wilson MP has called on the Albanese Government to urgently confirm that no taxpayers' money is being used to bankroll corruption on Victoria’s Big Build projects, including the $26 billion North East Link.

Mr Wilson’s demands follow reports in today’s Nine papers that kickbacks and cartel behaviour is commonplace on Victoria's Big Build projects.

“Australians are waking up to the fact that State and Federal Labor are running a cartel of kickbacks between unions, Labor, industry super and the corporates that supply them. Taxpayers are picking up the bill through higher prices, higher taxes, more debt and graft” Mr Wilson said.

A Nine papers investigation has revealed that a veterans’ labour-hire company, X-Forces, was allegedly forced to hand over payments to a gangland-linked figure to access contracts on the North East Link. The allegations raise serious concerns that Labor’s “social procurement” rules are being rorted, with veterans denied the very opportunities the scheme was meant to provide.

Mr Wilson said it was unacceptable for vulnerable veterans to be exploited by a culture of corruption entrenched between Labor governments, unions and their corporate mates.

“Policies designed to support veterans have been twisted into a slush fund for cartels. If even a cent of Federal taxpayers’ money is caught up in this racket, the Albanese Government will be complicit in betraying those who served our nation,” Mr Wilson said.

He said Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Amanda Rishworth and Minister for Infrastructure, Catherine King must urgently:

  • ⁠Confirm whether Federal funds are financing projects where cartel kickbacks are occurring.
  • Guarantee that no Commonwealth contribution is being siphoned off into corruption or criminal networks.
  • ⁠⁠Explain how they are protecting veterans from exploitation in government-backed projects.

“The Albanese Government cannot shrug its shoulders while billions in Federal funding flows into projects dogged by corruption allegations. Ministers Rishworth and King must show leadership and ensure taxpayers’ money is not financing cartel kickbacks,” Mr Wilson said.

ENDS