Big Build royal commissioner comes with mystery in his pocket

Victoria’s newest royal commissioner has arrived with all the judicial gravitas you would expect from a former chief justice.

But perhaps rather intriguingly, Christoper Kourakis also comes with a little mystery in his back pocket.

His Honour was this week given the keys to one of the most politically explosive inquiries in Victoria’s recent history, with a $50m budget, coercive powers and instructions to follow the evidence wherever it leads to get to the bottom of Big Build corruption.

Premier Ben Carroll has described him as independent, rigorous and fearless.

And there is certainly no shortage of experience to suggest Kourakis knows his way around a complicated courtroom.

But political types might have noticed one particularly interesting chapter in his judicial career.

While Chief Justice of South Australia, Kourakis recused himself from hearing a case involving alleged users of the notorious AN0M encrypted communications network — the FBI-backed platform that ensnared alleged organised crime figures around the world.

The reasons for his recusal were sealed.

When journalists subsequently sought access to those reasons, Kourakis declined to release them, saying revealing them could compromise the proper administration and enforcement of criminal law.

Which, naturally, has given the new royal commissioner a small taste of the very questions about transparency and disclosure that he may now be asking others.

There is, of course, no suggestion whatsoever that the AN0M matter raises any question about Kourakis’s suitability to lead the Victorian inquiry.

Quite the opposite.

But it does provide an interesting footnote as he takes charge of an investigation where he has been explicitly instructed to make his processes fair, thorough and transparent, and where he has extraordinary powers to demand documents and summon witnesses.

And this time, it will be Kourakis asking the questions.

The terms of reference give him plenty of people to ask them of, too, including construction bosses, union officials, contractors, public servants and, potentially, current and former Victorian ministers and premiers.

So welcome to Victoria, Commissioner.

The first rule of royal commissions is usually that someone else gets put under the microscope.

This time, however, there may be a few people in Spring Street wondering just how powerful that microscope is going to be.

Spring St MPs thinking about life after politics

With the state election nearing, the minds of many Spring St MPs are turning toward the thought of life after politics.

With massive swings tipped against the Carroll government, a swag of backbench MPs, and even ministers, are bracing to lose their seats.

But for those MPs who don’t score another term, they might want to take heart from a former colleague.

Former Liberal MP Tim Smith has shown that there is, apparently, life after parliament, and, in his case, a rather more interesting life than some might have expected.

After leaving Victorian politics, Smith forged a new career advising Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister before turning his attention to Westminster, where he has been advising UK Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch.

Not a bad second act for a bloke whose political career in Melbourne came to a crashing end in 2022.

Smith quit politics following a drink drive in which he crashed his Jaguar into a Hawthorn fence after having “too many” wines and recording a BAC of .131.

From Spring Street to Westminster, Smith’s post-Parliamentary CV is certainly proving more international than the average former MP’s.

A suburban fence in Hawthorn and a good chunk of the Victorian Liberal Party may once have had other ideas about his political future.

But from the other side of the world, Smith appears to be having the last laugh.

Melbourne’s loss, it seems, has been England’s gain.

As for a return to Victorian politics, which has long been rumoured for Smith, Baz is told that’s a firm no.

Brewing headache for one MP hopeful

Nothing like a scorned ex with a webcam and an axe to grind to liven up the dirt files of Spring Street’s political operatives ahead of an election.

Baz hears whispers of a brewing headache for one MP hopeful, after a person claiming to be their former partner began dropping a series of YouTube videos and Facebook posts attacking the candidate.

The tirades have been dismissed as nothing more than the nasty tricks of a jilted lover with a grievance, a grudge, and, by her own admission, a lengthy battle against substance addiction.

The claims range from the garden-variety alleged infidelity to more pointed critiques of their ex’s politics.

In one post, the person claimed their ex had become “broader, more absolute and increasingly conspiratorial” since the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing this was relevant given their political ambitions.

The woman also disclosed a history of drug use and multiple hospitalisations relating to mental health crises.

Baz is told the allegations are nothing more than a fabricated hit job.

But in the lead up to an election, that’s all some political opponents need.

Guess who

Which barristers are being lined up to be hired as counsel assisting the royal commission into corruption on government worksites?

Overheard

“There was grift, there was thuggery, there was misogyny, and there was violence on taxpayer-funded construction sites.” Premier Ben Carroll on why a royal commission into Big Build corruption is needed.

Got any scuttlebutt for Baz? Email backroombaz@news.com.au