Deputy Premier Ben Carroll insists Jacinta Allan still right person to lead Victoria

Jacinta Allan’s leadership may soon be under threat if things don’t go Labor’s way in the upcoming by-election, but Deputy Premier Ben Carroll insists she’s still the right person for the job.

Deputy Premier Ben Carroll says Jacinta Allan is “certainly” still the right person for the top job, despite Labor’s primary vote falling to an all-time low.

As Victorians increasingly turn their backs on the government, Mr Carroll has sought to defend the party leadership and Labor’s chances of winning a historic fourth term.

Pressed over whether Ms Allan was still the right person to lead Labor into the 2026 election, Mr Carroll said “certainly”.

“She knows what we need to do, and she’s working very hard,” she said.

Senior ALP figures say while there is no current threat of a leadership challenge, all eyes were on next week’s Werribee by-election.

“Werribee could be the ember that starts the uncontrolled wildfire,” one source said.

“There is nervousness in the west and north.”

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan is still the right person for the job, according to Deputy Premier Ben Carroll. Picture: NewsWire

Current polling has the ALP’s primary vote at just 22 per cent which would lead to an electoral wipe-out if replicated at next year’s state election.

A growing number of MPs are now concerned they could be in the firing line of an anti-government backlash.

The ALP currently holds 12 marginal seats - including Pakenham, Pascoe Vale, Footscray and Preston - with margins between 0.2 per cent and 4.6 per cent.

It holds another 22 seats with margins of less than 10 per cent.

Despite the damning polling, Mr Carroll said he was confident that Labor would win the 2026 election.

“All of the cabinet, all of our caucus colleagues, we are up for this fight,” he said.

“We are going to go on and win a historic fourth term.”

Asked about the poor polling figures on Nova FM on Wednesday, Ms Allan said it was clear the community wanted more from the government.

Deputy Premier Ben Carroll believes Victorians will vote in favour of Labor in the upcoming election. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

“I absolutely accept that governments, me, people like me in these leadership roles, we’ve got to work harder,” she said.

“ We’ve got to understand where the community is at, listen to the community and respond to what they’re telling us, and particularly on cost of living.

“It’s real. It’s hurting people, and my commitment is to fight for those households and families.”

Former labor strategist and now director at polling firm RedBridge Kos Samaras said Labor had to focus on better policy formulation.

“No matter the result Victorian Labor is no different to all other state and federal branches of the major political parties, they all have to abandon the messiah complex,” he said.

“It did not work in NSW for the Coalition and it did not work for Labor in QLD.

“The only solution to complex electoral challenges is a better policy response with a united team focused on external politics and not internal.

“Voters just want good policy that aligns with their values and needs. They are not fans of the major parties’ messiah complex, always focusing on personality rather than policy”.