By Annika Smethurst and Benjamin Preiss
Australia’s longest-serving female minister Jacinta Allan will be sworn in as Victoria’s deputy premier on Monday as part of a major pre-election reshuffle prompted by the resignation of four senior ministers.
Daniel Andrews on Saturday unveiled the frontbench he will take to the November poll, which will include more women than any other cabinet in Australia, as Labor looks to refresh its senior ranks while it seeks a third term.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced Jacinta Allan will be his new deputy premierCredit: Paul Jeffers
Allan, 48, who entered parliament in 1999, will become only the second woman in Victorian history to hold the position of deputy premier. In 2002 she became the state’s youngest minister, aged just 29, and is widely tipped to succeed Andrews as Labor leader.
She will also take on a new portfolio as the minister charged with delivering the Commonwealth Games.
“It is really humbling and with a really great sense of personal pride that I have had the unanimous endorsement of my fabulous caucus colleagues today,” Allan told media after emerging from Labor’s caucus meeting on Saturday morning.
“It’s a tremendous privilege, and it’s one that I know comes with additional responsibilities.”
Colin Brooks has served as speaker but will now take on a frontbench role after being promoted to CabinetCredit: Colin Brooks/Facebook
Of the five new cabinet ministers, Bundoora MP Colin Brooks will leave his role as speaker to take on the portfolios of child protection, family services, disability, ageing and carers.
Member for Oakleigh Steve Dimopoulos will become tourism, sport, major events and creative industries minister.
Upper house MP Harriet Shing, who represents Eastern Victoria, will take on the portfolios of equality and regional development replacing Mary-Anne Thomas who will become health minister.
Shing was previously overlooked by her Left faction last time, frustrating Andrews who has been supportive of her elevation to Cabinet.
Pascoe Vale MP Lizzie Blandthorn will become planning minister and take on the tactical role of manager of government business in the lower house.
Left faction member and former cabinet secretary Sonya Kilkenny, the member for Carrum, will be sworn in as minister for corrections, youth justice, victim support as well as fishing and boating
Outgoing Corrections minister Natalie Hutchins will take on the education portfolio. Current transport minister Ben Carroll will become the co-ordinating minister for the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, taking on the portfolios of industry support and recovery and business precincts
Treasurer Tim Pallas adds trade to his duties, and Anthony Carbines will become minister for crime prevention, racing and police which was previous held by Lisa Neville.
Melissa Horne will pick up the local government portfolio and upper house MP Gayle Tierney will add agriculture to her existing responsibilities for training and skills and higher education.
Five MPs – Enver Erdogan, Sheena Watt, Nina Taylor, Christine Couzens and Darren Cheeseman – will join the ranks of parliamentary secretaries.
The Victorian Labor caucus met on Saturday to effectively tick off on the new ministerial appointments following factional meetings which determined the make-up of Andrews frontbench.
The election-year shake-up was triggered by the resignation on Friday of James Merlino, former deputy premier and education minister, and three other high-profile MPs: Health Minister Martin Foley, Police Minister Lisa Neville and Industry, Tourism and Sports Minister Martin Pakula.
The exodus of four senior ministers comes just months after Planning and Housing Minister Richard Wynne announced his resignation late last year.
A total of 19 Labor MPs have quit or been dumped from the parliament since 2018.
(L-R) James Merlino, Martin Foley, Lisa Neville and Martin Pakula have announced their retirement.
Caucus was under pressure to elect a woman to the role, but Allan is from the premier’s Socialist Left faction, which now has control of Victorian Labor’s top two roles, prompting accusations from some caucus members that the move would consolidate Andrews’ power over the party.
But her elevation was backed by key Right faction figures, including Treasurer Tim Pallas, and was part of a wider factional deal which saw Dimopoulos and Brooks – both from Labor’s Right – enter cabinet.
Andrews denied the move would give his Socialist Left faction too much influence over the government, claiming there hadn’t always been a “balance” from the left and right in the leadership teams of previous Labor governments.
“My judgment is that the best person should get the job,” he said.
He described Allan’s promotion as “outstanding” and said his five new ministers added diversity and new experience to his cabinet.
In the past, factional arrangements often attempted to make sure the deputy role was held by an MP from a different faction to the premier, though that is not always the case.
Labor insiders, speaking on condition of anonymity to openly discuss party matters, said there was an expectation that a Left-Right balance in the top two roles would be restored once Andrews resigns.
Several Labor MPs said the main opposition to Allan’s rise came from members of the Left faction who viewed her promotion as an obstacle to their own careers.
While factional groups are allotted a specific number of spots in cabinet and put forward candidates, Andrews allocates portfolios. The new cabinet will be sworn in at a ceremony at Government House on Monday.
Andrews said the election in November would be close and he wasn’t taking Labor’s re-election for granted, despite being ahead in the polls.
“The state election will be close, they always are. It’s a handful of votes in a handful of seats. We will put forward a positive and optimistic plan.”
If Labor wins, Andrews said he will serve a full term.
The opposition seized on the retirements and factional realignment as a sign of instability within the government.
“It’s a one-man Dan show,” Liberal deputy leader David Southwick said.
“This isn’t renewal, this is a revolt – people are leaving because they are sick of Daniel Andrews.”
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