OpinionJuly 14, 2026 — 3:45pmReading the articles written by Nick McKenzie and others about the alleged corruption and gangland infiltration in the CFMEU reminds me of Victoria in the late 1970s. At that time, there was evidence also largely exposed by The Age of violence and corruption surrounding the Federated Ship Painters and Dockers Union.After extensive investigations over the past two years, The Age has exposed underworld figures working with the CFMEU, extortion, drug trafficking, sexual exploitation and far more. There have been estimates that some $15 billion of taxpayer money has been added to the cost of major infrastructure projects. As a lawyer who spent more than 50 years as The Age’s legal counsel, these shocking revelations bring to mind how we’ve broken the back of corruption in the past.Premier Jacinta Allan has rejected multiple calls for a royal commission into corruption on the Big Build.Eddie JimSuch allegations should be thoroughly investigated by a royal commission with extensive powers.This year the serious allegations around the Big Build have continued to escalate. There are allegations of corruption to mind-boggling levels. All this at a time when many Victorians are struggling, when there are constant reports of extra funds being needed for schools, hospitals, the police and much more. Then we get into our cars and witness deteriorating roads and other services.When the Victorian and federal governments became aware of the corruption allegations in 1980, they jointly established the Costigan royal commission. The strength of that commission was that it had very extensive Victorian and national powers. When added to the powers of the federal and Victorian police forces, it was the turning point in numerous investigations.McKenzie and The Age should be complimented on the investigation so far and the revelations they have exposed. However, they are limited in what they can do.As Creighton Burns, a brilliant editor of The Age during the 1980s, wrote, “Newspapers do not have the power, the resources or the expertise to run to ground the bosses of organised crime. But they can and should act as an early warning system, signalling the emergence and impact of new crime syndicates and assessing the efficiency of crime detection and law enforcement agencies.”The selection of Frank Costigan, QC, to head the commission in 1980 was an inspired choice. He was an influential member of the ALP who had unsuccessfully stood for the party in the federal seat of Chisholm a decade earlier.Costigan said organised crime was out of control. Justice Donald Stewart, then chair of the National Crime Authority, was able to say by 1986 that the cancer was in remission. A huge change.Two major drug figures had been brought to justice. Some 600 charges had been brought against more than 50 people by the time the commission delivered its final report in 1984. Investigative reporter Bob Bottom wrote in his book Bugged that following the Costigan commission that the National Crime Authority charged some 300 people with a total of 1471 charges.Bottom had noted in his work with The Age’s Insight investigations team that the Costigan commission not only unravelled criminal activity but the “insidious problem of corruption”. In his 1991 book Inside Victoria: A Chronicle of Scandal, Bottom noted that the Costigan commission “opened a veritable Pandora’s box”. He added that it’s end meant, “Victoria has been left with something of a void which has not been filled.”We are now paying the penalties for leaving that void.Justice Stewart, the crime authority chair, described Costigan’s work as “magnificent”.Then prime minister Bob Hawke said the final report “renders all the more important the Labor government’s unequivocal commitment to total support for a sustained fight – without fear or favour – against organised crime”.It is time for a comprehensive investigation by a royal commission with wide powers to investigate these allegations, and if proven to bring charges and seek to recover the money lost. Such a royal commission would need to work closely with the police, the Australian Taxation Office and other agencies.Tens of billions of dollars are scheduled to be spent on the Big Build in the future. Steps need to be taken to minimise the risk of further losses due to corruption.We have done this before in Victoria. It’s past time to do it again.Peter Bartlett worked as The Age’s legal counsel for more than 50 years.The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here.From our partners