Vic Labor deflects bribery claim

Victoria's Labor party has deflected claims one of its officials asked a developer for $50,000 to smooth industrial relations on its construction site.

Labor leader Daniel Andrews would not name the official but says the "undoubtedly very serious" claims published by News Corp on Friday need to be investigated by the federal Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption.

However, he says he can't comment further on the matter without pre-empting the inquiry's findings, which are not scheduled to be handed down until after the November state election.

"Those issues that have been canvassed in the media in the last 24 hours are undoubtedly very serious issues," Mr Andrews told reporters.

"The appropriate thing to do is for those matters to be looked at carefully by the royal commission, and I do not propose to provide a day-by-day, blow-by-blow, commentary on the work of the royal commission.

"When the royal commission's work is finished ... I will have no hesitation on acting on any finding that the royal commission should bring forward."

The Herald Sun reported an unnamed Labor Party official demanded $50,0000 to protect the Pentridge Prison re-development from Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) industrial action.

Mr Andrews said the party would hold an internal investigation.

Asked whether the allegations proved the need for the royal commission which had been opposed by Labor, he said "others can run a commentary on that".

Also on Friday, the CFMEU distributed a letter it had sent to the commission in which it raised concerns about "selective and unfair briefings of journalists by commission staff".

The media was reporting details led in private commission hearings, the letter said, and these leaks warranted an Australian Federal Police investigation.

Victorian Planning Minister Matthew Guy also said the latest allegations were not an isolated case.

"Developers have told me a number of examples where they have felt high pressure, or extorted, by a range of organisations - predominantly unions - and I have advised them to just go and tell the relevant authorities," Mr Guy said.