Chris Kourakis, chair of a royal commission, indicates the inquiry will look beyond immediate issues and examine how large infrastructure projects—often referred to as the “Big Build”—came to be shaped over time. Multiple outlets report that his opening approach focuses on starting at senior levels while also leaving room to question broader decisions and processes.

The articles agree that Kourakis signals a willingness to “stand back” and interrogate longer-running questions about the origins of the program. While the sources vary only in wording and emphasis, they converge on the idea that the commission may explore systemic causes rather than limiting its review to individual actions or specific incidents. The reporting frames this as an intent to connect current concerns to earlier planning, governance, and decision-making.

Overall, the coverage suggests the commission is preparing to balance examination of authority structures with investigation into underlying drivers and institutional factors that contributed to outcomes associated with the “Big Build.”