Ben Carroll will become Victoria’s 50th Premier after being unanimously elected leader of the Victorian Parliamentary Labor Party, bringing a dramatic 48 hours of political upheaval to an end and ushering in a new era for the state government just four months before the election.
The former Deputy Premier is expected to be sworn in later on Tuesday after a turbulent caucus meeting that briefly threw Labor’s succession plan into doubt.
Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny unexpectedly entered the leadership contest after Jacinta Allan announced her resignation earlier in the day, forcing an internal ballot and raising the prospect of a prolonged factional battle. For a short period, Energy Minister Gabrielle Williams was chosen as the party’s interim leader while discussions continued. According to multiple reports, Kilkenny later withdrew her candidacy, clearing the way for Carroll to be elected unanimously.
Government whip Julianna Addison later confirmed Carroll had been elected unanimously as Labor leader, with Gabrielle Williams chosen as Deputy Leader and set to become Deputy Premier.
Carroll’s elevation completes one of the fastest leadership transitions in recent Victorian political history.
A member of Labor’s Right faction and the MP for Niddrie since 2012, Ben Carroll has held several senior portfolios including Public Transport, Education and Deputy Premier
Only weeks ago he had publicly ruled out challenging Jacinta Allan, but on Monday revealed colleagues had informed him the Premier no longer enjoyed the support of the parliamentary caucus. He subsequently told Allan he would nominate for the leadership, arguing the stakes were too high to ignore the prospect of a Liberal-One Nation government after the November election.
Allan resigned on Tuesday morning, saying although she believed she would have won a ballot under Labor’s rules, a prolonged contest would create unnecessary uncertainty for Victorians. She gave Carroll her “unqualified support” and urged the party to unite behind its new leader.
Carroll now inherits a government under intense electoral pressure.
Labor has struggled with declining polling, voter concerns over cost of living, housing affordability, rising state debt and crime, while allegations surrounding major infrastructure projects have damaged public confidence. The leadership change is intended to give Labor a fresh start before Victorians vote on November 28.
A member of Labor’s Right faction and the MP for Niddrie since 2012, Carroll has held several senior portfolios including Public Transport, Education and Deputy Premier. His supporters argue he offers the government an opportunity to reset after nearly three years under Allan and more than a decade of Labor rule.
His immediate challenge will be to reunite a party left bruised by an extraordinary leadership struggle and convince voters that Labor has changed course in time to retain government at the November election.
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