Fines or Jail Time for the Special Prosecutor If They Leak Information
Inquiries Amendment (Special Prosecutor) Bill 2026
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Topics
conflict of interest freedom of information government legal immunity public inquiries special prosecutors
Introduced by: The Hon Ingrid Stitt MLC (ALP); The Hon Ben Carroll MP (ALP) — Premier
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
James Newbury LIB
“I rise to speak on the Inquiries Amendment (Special Prosecutor) Bill 2026. What Victorians would expect when they hear that a bill is before the house to establish a specialprosecutor is that thebill would enable the creation of both the role and the powers associated with it. That is what I think every Victorian would expect.”
Nina Taylor ALP
“This bill is part of the Carroll government’s commitment to integrity and to acting on allegations of crime, corruption and misconduct on government-funded major construction projects in Victoria. The Premier’s first act on assuming office was to call a royal commissionintocrimeandmisconductinVictoria’sconstructionindustry.”
“I also rise to speak on this legislation, the InquiriesAmendment(SpecialProsecutor)Bill2026.Ofcoursethisis,aspreviousspeakershavesaid, legislation that is complementary to the royal commission that has been established to investigate allegations of criminal and corrupt behaviour on government building projects. As we know, a royal commission conducts an inquiry.”
Gary Maas ALP
“I rise today, with the couple of minutes that I think I havebeforethedazzlingmatterofpublicimportancefromthememberforGippslandSouth,tosupport the Inquiries Amendment (Special Prosecutor) Bill 2026 that is before the house.”
Lauren Kathage ALP
“I am pleased to continue my contribution on the Inquiries Amendment (Special Prosecutor) Bill 2026. The Premier’s first act on taking office was to announcethathe would calla royalcommission into crime and misconductinVictoria’s construction industry, and that royal commission was formally established on 20 August. As we have seen, the termsofreferenceareexhaustiveandexpansive.”
Chris Crewther LIB
“I rise to speak on the Inquiries Amendment (Special Prosecutor) Bill2026. TheLiberals and Nationals willsupport this bill, but we willseek to improveit withtheamendmentscirculatedbythememberforBrighton.Ourpositionisclear:establishthespecial prosecutor, ensure evidence uncovered by the royal commission can lead to lawful action and close a clear loophole that should have been fixed years ago.”
Sarah Connolly ALP
“I too rise to speak on the Inquiries Amendment (Special Prosecutor) Bill 2026. This is a really important bill. It delivers on our Premier’s commitment to establish a royal commission into Victoria’s construction sector and to establish a special prosecutor.”
Paul Mercurio ALP
“I am very happy to rise to give my contribution on the Inquiries Amendment(Special Prosecutor) Bill2026. There hasbeen some great debatetoday on this side of the chamber. Obviously that side of the chamber must like the bill, because they are not out here talking about it, against it or for it.”
Mathew Hilakari ALP
“I am actually quite surprised that I am standing up after another Labor member in this place, because – A member: Where are they?”
Nathan Lambert ALP
“I amsorry to disappoint the member for Point Cook, but I am standing up as another government contributor. I will come back to the lack of speakers from the othersideof thechamber and verynotablythelackof speakers fromtheGreens,fullstop,onthis bill.”
“Acting Speaker Farnham, it is lovely to see you in the chair, of course, and to follow my very good friend and neighbour – physically and geographically in my electorate but also here in the seating plan of the chamber – the member for Prestonafteravery,verycomprehensiveandfantasticcontribution,particularlycallingouttheGreens and their hypocrisy on these issues and their deafening silence on this …”
Eden Foster ALP
“I rise today in this chamber to speak in strong support of the Inquiries Amendment (Special Prosecutor) Bill 2026. I am very surprised to see those opposite not speaking anymore. I thought they would be quite keen to talk on this matter, but clearly not.”
Martha Haylett ALP
“I rise to speak on the Inquiries Amendment (Special Prosecutor) Bill 2026. This is an important piece of legislation that goes directly to the issues of integrity, accountability and public confidence in the delivery of major public infrastructure projects acrossourgreatstateofVictoria,andIthankeverymemberinthisplacewhohas madeacontribution, includingthememberforMulgravejustbeforeme.”
Kat Theophanous ALP
“I rise to speak on the Inquiries Amendment (Special Prosecutor) Bill2026, abillaboutensuringintegrityand accountabilityareattheheartof thedelivery of major government-funded projects.”