New Premier Chosen to Replace Daniel Andrews

Victorian Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan addresses the media during a press conference in Melbourne, Australia, Dec. 29, 2020. AAP Image/James Ross

Jacinta Allan has been elected unopposed as the 49th premier of Victoria following a Labor Party Caucus meeting today.

Ben Carroll has been chosen to serve as deputy premier of Australia’s second most populous state.

Ms. Allan will replace Daniel Andrews, who was the state’s longest-serving Labor premier and was reelected recently in November 2022.

The Premier-elect described being elected as Premier as a “deep honour and privilege” and said she would continue to work hard.

“I will continue to work hard...I come to this role with the ability to continue this strong reform agenda,” Ms. Allan said.

The incoming Premier said her leadership style would be driven by her values including hard work, “equality of opportunity”, supporting working families and the environment.

Housing, was named as the number one challenge she plans to address in Victoria. Ms. Allan thanked her family for their love and support.

Ms. Allan has spent her entire working career in politics, elected to Parliament at the state election in 1999 at just 25 years of age.

Before entering Parliament, she worked as an electorate officer for Steve Gibbons and Neil O'Keefe in Bendigo.

Like former Premier Andrews, Ms. Allan is from the socialist left faction of the Labor Party.

She has two children, aged 10 and eight years with her husband Yorick Piper.

“The biggest impact on my outlook and the way I work has been having kids,” Ms. Allan said.

The Labor Caucus meeting this morning was not free from drama, with Ms. Allan and Mr. Carroll entering the party room separately following meetings with MPs.

Speculation had emerged that Mr. Carroll might nominate for the leadership, however, in the end, Ms. Allan emerged as the premier-elect.

Mr. Carroll said he has been working with the new leader for 20 years and described her as “not only a colleague but a friend.”

“It’s a real privilege to be serving as deputy premier,” he told reporters.

Mr. Carroll worked as a policy advisor and lawyer before entering politics. He has served as the minister for Industry and Innovation since December 2022.

Andrew’s Resignation

Mr. Andrews stepped down on Tuesday after nine years as Victorian premier, a role he described as an “honour and privilege.”

“It’s not an easy decision, because as much as we’ve achieved together, there’s so much more to do,” he told reporters.

“But when it’s time, it’s time. Recently I have been speaking to my kids and Cath. Thoughts of what life will be like after this job have started to creep in.

“And I have always known that the moment that happens, it’s time to go—and to give this privilege, this amazing responsibility, to someone else.

In response, Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto said the premier resigned because the truth had “caught up with him.”

“The legacy that Dan Andrews leaves is a state that is broke,” he said. “We live in the state with the highest taxes.”