Ben Carroll announces royal commission into construction sector as first act as new premier of Victoria

Labor MPs endorsed Ben Carroll to become the next Victorian premier following the resignation of Jacinta Allan. Photograph: James Ross/AAP View image in fullscreen Labor MPs endorsed Ben Carroll to become the next Victorian premier following the resignation of Jacinta Allan. Photograph: James Ross/AAP Ben Carroll announces royal commission into construction sector as first act as new premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan steps down from top job before expected spill, saying her deputy has her ‘unqualified support’ Live updates: Jacinta Allan quits as premier of Victoria Who is Ben Carroll? Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Ben Carroll has been sworn in as the premier of Victoria after Jacinta Allan resigned, with his first act as leader to announce a royal commission into alleged corruption in the construction sector. Carroll’s elevation comes just four months before the state election and follows a tumultuous 48 hours for Labor, during which Allan resigned and a surprise challenger emerged in the leadership contest. Flanked by the new deputy leader, the transport infrastructure minister, Gabrielle Williams, Carroll on Tuesday afternoon announced a royal commission into the construction sector, as well as plans to create the role of a special prosecutor who would work alongside the commission. He said he would also give the state’s anti-corruption watchdog follow-the-dollar powers to investigate the spending of public money by private contractors and subcontractors “now, this term”. Allan had previously committed to introducing such laws only after the November election. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email Carroll, who at a press conference in June looked Allan in the eye and declared he would not challenge her, said “circumstances had changed”. “Yesterday morning, I was approached by a delegation who asked me to stand for leader. This delegation had already visited the premier and informed her that they wanted change. I’m going to be that change,” he said. While Carroll thanked Allan for her service to the Labor party and Victoria, he sought to differentiate himself from her and her predecessor and ally, Daniel Andrews. “Let me make one thing very clear: I am not Daniel Andrews. I am not Jacinta Allan ,” he said. “I will do things differently because different times require a new approach.” Carroll said his government would “focus on the basics”, including providing families with good services, giving police the “support they need to fight crime” and spending every taxpayer dollar with “respect”. Who is Ben Carroll, the man who wants to be Victoria’s next premier? Read more Williams, who was among a key group of ministers and MPs who on Monday told Allan she no longer had the support of caucus and urged her to stand down, told reporters it became “abundantly clear” over the winter break that the party needed a reset to better align with community expectations. Allan had vowed to contest a leadership ballot on Mon