Ben Carroll has been sworn in as Victorian Premier, replacing Jacinta Allan after she lost support from the Labor caucus. He was challenged by Attorney General Sonya Kilkenny in a tense and chaotic caucus meeting on Tuesday morning, before ultimately being elected unopposed. Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams will serve as his deputy ahead of the state election in November.
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TRANSCRIPT
Jacinta Allan has resigned as Victorian premier and been replaced by her deputy, Ben Carroll, who was signed in on Tuesday afternoon at Government House.
Ms Allan announced her decision just thirty minutes before a chaotic caucus meeting in which she had originally vowed to fight to retain the top job.
“I am making this decision because it's the right thing by the Labor Party, and by the Victorian people. I was prepared to put my record and my plan to a ballot of members, as our rules allow. I believe I would have won. But doing so this close to an election takes up valuable resources.”
Four months out from an election, she said the most valuable resource was time.
“More importantly, it puts the state in a position of uncertainty. That hurts the Victorian people, and I just won't do that.”
Her colleagues came very close.
During Tuesday's caucus meeting, attorney-general Sonya Kilkenny moved to challenge Ben Carroll for the leadership in a twist few expected.
This briefly raised the risk of a weeks-long campaign where the two aspirants would have had to compete for the votes of rank-and-file members.
At one point, reports emerged that Gabrielle Williams would act as interim leader.
But Mr Carroll was ultimately elected unanimously in the leadership spill, with MPs emerging at one minute to midday, when parliament began its first sitting after the mid-winter break.
"Order! Welcome back members. So excited to see your happy faces.”
The opposition was quick to capitalise on the confusion that followed Labor MPs out of the room and into parliamentary chambers.
Manager of Opposition Business James Newbury opened with questions about contradictory seating patterns.
“One has the member for Niddrie in that seat, and the other has the member for Dandenong in that seat. Further, Speaker, both seating plans have the member for Bendigo East, where the member for Monbulk is sitting. I am concerned that the member for Bendigo East has not even been afforded a seat in this chamber, that neither seating plan has the member for Bendigo East in this plan.”
Jacinta Allan is the member for Bendigo East.
She has represented the regional electorate since 1999, rising through Labor ranks to hold a range of ministerial portfolios, and later becoming deputy premier under Daniel Andrews.
In her resignation speech on Tuesday morning, Ms Allan outlined her legacy, pointing to policies on cost of living, crime, public services, budget repair, treaty and women's health.
She also defended Labor's Big Build program - which has been dogged by corruption allegations that contributed to her plummeting popularity in recent months.
“And it all starts with building. 121 new schools. 12 new hospitals. We have removed 92 level crossings. Finished the Westgate Tunnel. We're building the North East Link and the Suburban Rail Loop. And then, there's the Metro Tunnel. Not too many people get to see a project of this size and scale through from the start to the end. I'm so goddamn proud of it.”
Ms Allan had resisted mounting calls for a royal commission into alleged corruption involving organised crime and the CFMEU, despite growing disquiet, including within her own party.
After seizing the leadership, Mr Carroll made clear he intends to change course.
“My first action as premier will be to call a royal commission into the construction sector. We will also immediately establish a special prosecutor that will work in parallel with the royal commission. Commission, and we will strengthen IBAC, giving them the follow-the-money powers. Now, this term, not in 2027 “
He didn't outline the terms of reference, but promised it would be comprehensive, saying integrity would not be optional under his leadership.
The incoming premier immediately moved to differentiate himself from his predecessors.
“Let me make one thing very clear. I am not Daniel Andrews. I am not Jacinta Allan.”
And acknowledged Labor is facing an uphill battle.
“Polling says Victoria is on track for Australia's first Liberal One Nation government, a Liberal One Nation government that will cut schools, health, and frontline services. Only Labor can stop the risk of a Liberal One Nation government that will hurt working people. people. But it is clear that on key issues that matter to Victorians, our government needs to go in a new direction. On integrity, on community safety, and on the economy. As premier, I will deliver that new direction.”
Mr Carroll also signalled more constraint on government spending, and a tougher approach to dealing with crime.
“That's why I have been in contact with the police commissioner today. To make one thing very clear, we will provide the powers, the funding, and the support they need to fight crime.”
The new premier did not provide details about how his ministry might change, nor whether his challenger Sonya Kilkenny will lose her job.
It also remains unclear whether Jacinta Allan will see out the remainder of her term, or recontest the seat she's held for 27 years.
Mr Carroll briefly acknowledged her years of service, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had done earlier on Tuesday.
“Jacinta Allan is someone who I think is a very decent human being. Someone who's motivated by her passionate belief in the lifestyle and in education, health, transport of Victorians, and delivering for Victorians. So she's someone who can be proud, I think, of her achievements over a long period of time, and I wish her well for her future. This will have been a very difficult day.”
Mr Albanese later congratulated the new premier in a social media post, saying he looks forward to working together with him.
