Legal news · 17 September 2026
Two Melbourne silks, one a public and construction law specialist and the other a leading criminal and administrative law barrister, will present the evidence at Victoria’s royal commission into corruption on major construction projects.
On 4 September 2026, the Royal Commission into the Integrity of Major Public and Civil Infrastructure Construction Projects in Victoria announced its senior legal team. Chris Young KC and Christopher Carr SC were appointed counsel assisting the Commission, with the law firm Maddocks as solicitors assisting.
The Commission held its opening hearing on Wednesday 23 September 2026 at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, where the first exhibits were tendered.
This article sets out who the two barristers are, drawing on the Commission’s own announcement and the public records we used to build their profiles, and explains what the inquiry has been asked to examine.
Counsel assisting the Commission are Chris Young KC, a Melbourne barrister who practises in public and commercial law, including constitutional and administrative law and building and construction matters, and Christopher Carr SC, the Chair of the Criminal Bar Association of Victoria, who practises across criminal and administrative law. That is how the Commission’s media release describes them.
Counsel assisting
King’s Counsel · Victorian Bar · List A Barristers
Chris Young KC signed the Victorian Bar roll in 2006 and was one of 18 barristers appointed Senior Counsel by the Supreme Court of Victoria in October 2019. His clerk announced at the time that his practice covered commercial matters involving taxation, trusts, financial services, professional negligence and building and construction, a substantial arbitration practice, and public law work in constitutional law, administrative law, freedom of information and the Victorian Charter of Human Rights.
His board biography at the Victoria Law Foundation says he has appeared in the High Court of Australia, the Federal Court and major domestic and international arbitrations, including public-private partnership arbitrations on hospital and prison projects, and that he regularly acts for governments, project companies and native title holders.
Doyle’s Guide lists him as Recommended among Victoria’s construction and infrastructure senior counsel in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2026, and includes him in its Victorian administrative and public law barristers list for 2024 to 2026.
Counsel assisting
Senior Counsel · Victorian Bar · Parnell’s Barristers
Christopher Carr SC was admitted in 2002, signed the Bar roll in 2007 and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2020. Before coming to the Bar he practised at the Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions. His practice covers criminal appeals, trials and pleas, judicial review and other administrative law proceedings, inquests, disciplinary hearings, occupational health and safety prosecutions, and coercive examinations before investigatory bodies such as IBAC.
He chairs the Criminal Bar Association of Victoria. Doyle’s Guide ranks him Preeminent among Victorian criminal law senior counsel in 2024, 2025 and 2026, and has listed him in every edition since 2018.
The Commission was established by the Governor of Victoria, the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, on 20 August 2026. By Letters Patent issued under section 5 of the Inquiries Act 2014 (Vic), the Governor appointed the Honourable Christopher Kourakis AC as Commissioner to inquire into and report on corruption, criminal conduct and serious misconduct on or in relation to major construction projects in Victoria.
The Commission must deliver its final report by 20 August 2027, or a later date agreed with the Premier. It may also provide an interim report.
According to the Commission’s published terms of reference, it will inquire into matters including:
Lawful, legitimate and appropriate actions taken under industrial laws and under occupational health and safety laws are expressly outside the inquiry’s scope. The Commission’s objectives also include referring matters to Victoria Police, IBAC, regulators or a Special Prosecutor for investigation or prosecution.
A royal commission is an inquiry, not a trial. Nothing in its terms of reference is a finding that any person or organisation did anything wrong.
In a royal commission, counsel assisting generally work for the inquiry itself rather than for any party. They help investigate the issues, call and question witnesses, present evidence and make submissions to the Commissioner. The findings and recommendations are the Commissioner’s alone.
The Commission’s answers to frequently asked questions confirm that it can summon witnesses and require documents to be produced, and that it may make findings within its terms of reference. People and organisations with a direct or special interest, or who may be the subject of an adverse finding, can apply for leave to appear, which allows them to take part in hearings, question witnesses or make submissions.
The opening hearing was held on Wednesday 23 September 2026 at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, 233 William Street, Melbourne. A recording is on the Commission’s hearings page, and the Commission says a transcript will be published in due course. Dates for later hearings will be posted on the same page. Public seating is limited and entry is subject to the court’s security screening.
Chris Young KC and Christopher Carr SC, announced on 4 September 2026. Maddocks are the solicitors assisting.
The Honourable Christopher Kourakis AC, appointed by Letters Patent issued by the Governor of Victoria on 20 August 2026.
It was held on Wednesday 23 September 2026 at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, 233 William Street, Melbourne. A recording is on the Commission’s hearings page and a transcript is to follow.
Its final report is due by 20 August 2027, unless a later date is agreed with the Premier of Victoria.
No. Counsel assisting present evidence and make submissions. Findings and recommendations are made by the Commissioner.
A Melbourne silk who practises in public and commercial law, including constitutional, administrative and tax law and building and construction disputes. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2019.
A Melbourne silk who practises in criminal and administrative law with a focus on appeals and review proceedings. He chairs the Criminal Bar Association of Victoria and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2020.
The profiles of Chris Young KC and Christopher Carr SC on Lawyer Reviews are editorial. Neither barrister has paid for them, claimed them or has any commercial relationship with this site. Every fact in them is attributed to a public source, and either barrister can ask for a correction through the profile page.