Respected former chief of staff to Julia Gillard shockingly quits Premier Jacinta Allan’s office after just 48 hours

A highly experienced consultant has stunningly quit his role helping new premier Jacinta Allan set up shop after just two days, with sources blaming a “chaotic” culture in her private office.

Premier Jacinta Allan has lost an experienced adviser in Ben Hubbard in two days.

A former chief-of-staff to Prime Minister Julia Gillard has quit as a key consultant to new premier Jacinta Allan.

The shock exit of transition tsar Ben Hubbard, who also worked as a senior adviser to former Premier Steve Bracks, has increased internal concerns about a delay in Ms Allan setting up her new administration.

Mr Hubbard — a highly experienced and respected consultant, specialising in public affairs, public policy, public administration, governance and risk — was brought in to help Ms Allan transition into her new role.

Sources familiar with the arrangement said Mr Hubbard was assisting on a voluntary basis as a long time friend and political ally of Ms Allan.

But he left after just two days in the role.

Sources close to Mr Hubbard said he had insisted he had only ever planned on spending two days in the consulting role.

But multiple sources said his departure had sent shockwaves through senior government ranks.

Senior government sources blamed a “chaotic” culture within the Premier’s Private Office, which is still staffed by long-serving employees of former Premier Daniel Andrews.

Ben Hubbard as PM Julia Gillard’s chief of staff.

“He came in and quit after 48 hours, refusing to work in a culture that was terrible and where he felt he wasn’t going to be supported,” one source said.

Cabinet sources said they were “shocked” at how quickly Mr Hubbard left the advisory role.

They had been told he would stay in place until the transition to Ms Allan’s new team was complete.

Government insiders said the transition from Mr Andrews to Ms Allan had been slower than expected.

Staff who worked in Mr Andrew’s private office continue to operate as the Premier’s office, alongside a handful of Ms Allan's advisors.

The failure of the offices to integrate has been blamed for a difficult start to Ms Allan’s term as Premier that included the announcement of a major new tax that blindsided her personal staff.

The Premier’s staff were caught off guard by news the government would expand Victoria’s Vacant Residential Land Tax when it was announced by treasurer Tim Pallas at an industry breakfast.

Government insiders say the staff transition from Daniel Andrews to Jacinta Allan has been slower than expected. Picture: David Crosling

“The relationship between Jacinta’s people and Daniel’s people is pretty strained,” a senior government source said.

“Some of the old guard seem to have been genuinely offended that Jacinta wants to make change.

“During the Andrews era they created a really centralised model of government, a first in Australian politics, and many want it to stay that way.”

It is understood Ms Allan will appoint a new chief of staff and deputy chief of staff early in the week, to replace longtime Andrews staffers Lissie Ratcliffe and Jessie McCrone.

Letters outlining redundancy offers, prompted by the resignation of Mr Andrews and subsequent cabinet reshuffle, were sent to ministerial staffers in recent days which is expected to spark a mass exodus of long-term employees.

Many will be eligible for six-figure payouts.

Senior sources said there was a desperate need to retain some experienced staffers amid speculation some former experienced hands would return to government work after a stint in the private sector.