The Victorian government has unveiled the frontbench it will take to the November state election after Friday's exodus of four senior ministers.
Key points:
- Jacinta Allan had the unanimous backing of the caucus for the role of deputy premier
- The roles for incoming ministers Colin Brooks, Sonya Kilkenny, Lizzie Blandthorn, Steve Dimopoulos and Harriet Shing will be confirmed by Monday
- Premier Daniel Andrews dismissed questions about breaking from factional conventions, saying "the best person should get the job"
Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan will serve as deputy premier, becoming the second woman to hold the post in Victorian history.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the caucus had voted unanimously to endorse Ms Allan, who is from the same Socialist Left faction.
Colin Brooks, Sonya Kilkenny, Lizzie Blandthorn, Steve Dimopoulos and Harriet Shing have been promoted to take on ministerial roles in the new cabinet.
On Friday, Deputy Premier and Education Minister James Merlino, Health Minister Martin Foley, Police Minister Lisa Neville and Tourism Minister Martin Pakula announced they would not contest November's election, opting to step down from their portfolios.
They joined Planning and Housing Minister Richard Wynne, who announced his resignation last year.
The state Labor Caucus met on Saturday morning to vote on replacements for the five ministers, who each held a number of key portfolios.
Having tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday morning, the outgoing Ms Neville was not in attendance, saying on social media it was "not how I would have liked my last days in the job to be spent".
The five new ministers will be sworn in on Monday, Mr Andrews said.
Their specific roles are yet to be confirmed and it is expected there will be some factional dealings before Monday's official ceremonies.
On Friday, existing ministers Mary-Anne Thomas, Lily D'Ambrosio, Danny Pearson, Ben Carroll and Natalie Hutchins were respectively promoted to new coordinating ministers for the health, environment, housing, jobs and education portfolios.
The coordinating minister positions are hand-picked by the Premier, and are generally the most-senior minister while other MPs take on smaller portfolios.
Specific portfolio appointments and the role of deputy premier are chosen by the wider caucus.
Allan continues history-making rise
Ms Allan, 48, will be the second woman since Joan Kirner to serve in the deputy role.
The MP for Bendigo East became the youngest female Victorian MP when she was elected in 1999 at the age of 25, and the youngest minister in the history of the state in 2002.
As Minister for Transport Infrastructure, she has donned a hard hat to become one of the faces of the state government's legacy projects to remove level crossings and boost public transport. She will retain the portfolio under the promotion.
She has also occasionally filled the role of Acting Premier, including at the end of 2020, when she announced a tightening of COVID-19 restrictions and the closure of the New South Wales border just before New Year's Eve.
Ms Allan today said it was "humbling" to take on the role, which she accepted with "a great sense of personal pride".
"It's a tremendous privilege, and it's one that I know comes with additional responsibilities, but it also builds on the work I've been doing every single day as a regional MP in Bendigo [and] working in those portfolios," she said.
Ms Allan's appointment represents a break from convention, where a premier from the left of the party is counterbalanced by a deputy from the right.
Mr Andrews again downplayed any factional upset over the move on Saturday, referencing leadership structures during the Bracks era.
"[Ms Allan] was the only candidate because she's the best candidate to become deputy premier."
Key Right faction figures backed Ms Allan going into Saturday morning's vote, including Treasurer Tim Pallas.
The appointment means Ms Allan is the likely successor to Mr Andrews as leader of the party, but both leaders dismissed any talk of succession.
New ministers continue gender balance
There were few surprises in Saturday's announcement, with many of the incoming ministers touted as some of the likely options by political pundits.
Member for Bundoora Colin Brooks will leave his role as lower house speaker to take on the new ministerial role.
Carrum MP Sonia Kilkenny has represented the marginal seat since 2014, and held parliamentary secretary roles between 2018 and 2020. She now serves as a cabinet secretary.
Lizzie Blandthorn is the state member for Pascoe Vale and chairs the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee.
Oakleigh MP Steve Dimopoulos is another second-term MP and is currently the parliamentary secretary for mental health and the Premier.
Upper house MP Harriet Shing, representing Eastern Victoria, currently holds a number of parliamentary secretary roles, including water and creative industries.
The new ministers are a mix of left and right-aligned faction members.
The Premier has used the reshuffling to emphasise gender equality in his cabinet, with 50 per cent of the leadership team female.
It was confirmed on Friday that Ms Thomas, who currently holds the agriculture portfolio, will become health minister, while corrections minister Natalie Hutchins will take on education.
Ms Thomas previously served as parliamentary secretary for health and cabinet secretary before being moved to her current role. On Friday, Mr Andrews said she would be an "outstanding health minister".
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has criticised the high turnover rate in the role, claiming the instability has contributed to Victoria's ongoing health crisis.
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2022-06-25 02:56:44Z
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