Premier Jacinta Allan’s new cabinet sworn in at Government House

Deputy Premier Ben Carroll has a new role in Jacinta Allan’s cabinet while in response the Coalition is welcoming Matthew Guy back to the shadow frontbench.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has unveiled her new-look cabinet ahead of her first official parliamentary sitting week as leader.

Tim Pallas will remain as Treasurer, Deputy Premier Ben Carroll will take charge of education and Danny Pearson will be responsible for the state’s massive infrastructure agenda as part of Premier Jacinta Allan’s first cabinet.

The ministers were sworn in at a ceremony at Government House ahead of the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday.

The cabinet shake-up comes less than a week since Ms Allan was endorsed to lead the Victorian Labor Party and become Premier following the sudden resignation of her predecessor Daniel Andrews.

A number of key portfolios remained unchanged, including the treasury, police, which will be overseen by Anthony Carbines and youth justice and corrections which remains the responsibility of Enver Erdogan.

Tim Pallas will stay on as Treasurer. Picture: David Caird

Lily D’Ambrosio remains the minister in charge of the SEC revival and climate change.

Natalie Hutchins was dumped from the key education portfolio in place of Mr Carroll who will also look after Medical Research.

Ms Hutchins will lead the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions as Minister for Jobs and Industry.

As Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, she will also take the lead as we work towards Treaty negotiations with the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria.

Among the biggest promotions was for upper house MP Harriett Shing, who adds the housing portfolio to her responsibilities as Minister for Water.

She will oversee implementation of the promised 800,000 new social and affordable housing dwelling over the next decade.

Sonya Kilkenny retains her responsibilities as minister for planning and also becomes Minister for the Suburbs.

Jacinta Allan with Deputy Premier Ben Carroll. Picture: Getty

She replaces Colin Brooks who becomes Minister for Development Victoria and Minister for Precincts.

He was also appointed Minister for Creative Industries ensuring we keep our title as Australia’s cultural capital.

Former Minister for Child Protection and Family Services, Lizzie Blandthorn, has been appointed the new Minister for Children.

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas will add the ambulance services portfolio to her responsibilities as well as the newly created health infrastructure portfolio.

Gabrielle Williams takes over the public transport portfolio, as well as leading the Department of Government Services.

The cabinet’s newest member, Eltham MP Vicki Ward, was appointed Minister for Prevention of Family Violence and Minister for Employment.

The cabinet’s newest member, Eltham MP Vicki Ward, (left) with Jacinta Allan and Ben Carroll. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

In response to the government’s cabinet shake-up, Opposition Leader John Pesutto unveiled his own new look shadow cabinet.

Among the biggest changes was the return of former leader Matthew Guy to the Coalition frontbench as shadow minister for public transport.

Mr Guy ruled out a third tilt at Liberal leadership, and confirmed he will remain in parliament until the 2026 state election.

He said he took up the opportunity to scrutinise public transport because he is a rail enthusiast and regularly catches the bus into parliament.

“John said do you want to do PT and I said yeah, why wouldn’t I? I really like it,” he said.

Deputy leader David Southwick, who owns 17 properties, will head up a new role aimed at tackling cost-of-living.

Asked how he could relate to a cost-of-living crisis, Mr Southwick said: “I don’t turn away from the fact that I had a life before politics. My focus is ensuring that every single Victorian is represented. I will fight for every single Victorian like I always have.”

Ann-Marie Hermans was stripped of her portfolios but remains on the frontbench as shadow cabinet secretary.

Former opposition leader Matthew Guy has returned to the Coalition front bench. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Kew MP Jess Wilson takes education from departing MP Matt Bach, while Evan Mulholland was appointed shadow minister for home ownership and housing affordability, as well as shadow minister for outer suburban growth.

Roma has added child protection to her current portfolios while James Newbury added Planning to his current portfolios.

Richard Riordan has been given the emergency services portfolio to juggle with his shadow housing responsibilities.

Mr Pesutto said the state was in “desperate need” of fresh leadership.

“As a team we’re offering Victorians that fresh vision that our state desperately needs,” he said.

“I’m really excited by the team we’ve unveiled. I’m really concerned about the team that the Labor government has unveiled.

“Not only is everyone the same, we can see that so many of the people who bungled earlier projects have actually been promoted, with all the risk that comes with that and the additional damage they could do in other areas of the government.”

Mr Pesutto defended the move to create a shadow portfolio for the State Electricity Commission, despite not supporting that project.

“That is actually about applying scrutiny. We actually think the SEC is a hoax, a con,” he said.

“Here we are, more than a year after the Labor government promised the SEC. It still has no projects. It still has no partners. It still has no real funding.

“We’re still not even any clearer on what it will actually do.”

Mr Pesutto said he decided to split up the key portfolios of energy and planning so they can be given the focus they require in the wake of recent reforms to housing and the energy crisis facing Victoria.

“David Davis will bring his vast experience to energy so we can scrutinise the Government’s proposed SEC but also build a viable plan to secure Victoria future energy supplies and tackle the growing costs on households and businesses.

“I hope there will be further opportunities to continue to promote and reward rising talent currently outside of shadow cabinet as we continue to build our team and policies in the lead up to the 2026 election.

“We are absolutely focused on the issues important to Victorians including the cost of living, health, education and ensuring we fix the state finances to lower debt and taxes, and restore integrity to government.”