The economic future of the state will remain a millstone around Jacinta Allan’s neck
Jacinta Allan has promised to bring her own style, personality, and policy agenda to a new look government – but it may take time to see any differentiation from Dan.
Opinion
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Jacinta Allan wants to carve out a different style of leadership than her predecessor.
She knows comparisons will inevitably be drawn, but has promised to bring her own style, personality, and policy agenda to a new look government.
Her first day in office might prompt the question, will it just be more of the same?
During two radio interviews and a press conference the Premier Allan was pushed for detail on how she planned to tackle Victoria’s dire debt situation.
It wasn’t forthcoming.
But we did learn that, like her predecessor, it wouldn’t involve scaling back the state’s massive transport infrastructure agenda.
The $120bn Suburban Rail Loop, for example, is here to say.
And while Ms Allan has only committed to completing the $35bn first stage, we won’t get a loop without another almost $100bn investment.
Depending who you ask, the government or ratings agencies, Victoria is on track to hit between $171bn and $226bn in debt by 2026-27.
It’s eye-watering stuff.
Ms Allan insists the plan set up by treasurer Tim Pallas in May’s budget to introduce a Covid debt repayment plan is a key step.
But beyond that there is little real detail about how Victoria will pay down its debt, and in the next four years, we won’t.
The economic future of the state will remain a millstone around Ms Allan’s neck not just because she’s now the Premier, but because of her role in overseeing massive cost overruns and time delays as transport infrastructure minister, as well as her role in axing the Commonwealth Games.
People want to feel secure about the economy.
Her ability to manage the state’s finances have already come under intense scrutiny, and will continue to do so.
This fact alone could stymie attempts to carve out a different style of governing.
Because without money to do anything, it will be hard to forge her own path.
But it will remain a necessary task if the Allan government wants to prove its not merely the Andrews government 2.0.
That said, change won’t come fast.
It could be months before a transition of senior premier’s office staff is complete.
Many seasoned advisers will look to depart, others won’t have a choice.
Change will be gradual as the team rebuilds.
On Thursday we saw Ms Allan as we know her best: in a hard hat at a level crossing, confirming she will keep every election commitment of her predecessor.
We may need to be patient if we want to see any differentiation between Ms Allan and Andrews.
If it comes.
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