The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has grilled Premier Jacinta Allan during the Parliamentary Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) Inquiry into the 2026–27 Budget Estimates over alarming allegations linked to Victoria’s Big Build.
As a member of PAEC, Ms Benham repeatedly pressed the Premier on whether teenage girls and young women involved in government-promoted Women in Construction programs had been exposed to unsafe environments involving violent offenders and alleged criminal activity on Big Build worksites.
Ms Benham said Victorian families deserved clear answers.
“Parents have every right to ask whether teenage girls and young women participating in these programs were placed in unsafe environments,” Ms Benham said.
“These allegations are deeply disturbing, and throughout the hearing the Premier repeatedly failed to provide direct answers to straightforward questions.”
Ms Benham challenged the Premier on when she first became aware of allegations surrounding Women in Construction and whether concerns had ever been raised internally about the organisation and individuals connected to it.
Despite repeated questioning, the Premier declined to confirm whether individuals linked to the allegations were still active on Big Build sites, instead referring multiple questions to agencies and authorities.
Ms Benham also questioned whether adequate background checks had been undertaken before licences were approved and whether government departments or agencies had received formal warnings about the organisation involved.
“The Premier spoke at length about policies and processes, but failed to answer the fundamental questions Victorians want answered,” Ms Benham said.
“At every turn, instead of answers, we saw deflection.
“Victorians deserve accountability, not avoidance.”
Video of Ms Benham’s questioning of the Premier is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M9bc9Q5thU&t=3s.
