A military veteran helping struggling ex-soldiers get jobs on the North East Link has alleged he was forced to pay a gangland-linked figure to gain access to the $26 billion government project.

Former soldier Daniel Salter is the first subcontractor on the Victorian government’s Big Build program to publicly outline the alleged graft infecting the North East Link, into which the federal government is also pouring billions of dollars .

Daniel Salter claims he had to pay an gangland-linked figure to win work for his labour-hire company for veterans.

Salter claimed the situation meant marginalised workers, such as veterans with PTSD, were prevented from obtaining meaningful work opportunities, instead privileging those with insider connections.

Salter launched his venture, X-Forces, in

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