Victorian MP Jacinta Allan will take over as state premier, with Ben Carroll serving as her deputy, when outgoing leader Daniel Andrews steps down at 5pm today.
Allan emerged victorious from a meeting of the Labor Party caucus Wednesday afternoon, securing unopposed party room support.
She successfully side-stepped a potential challenge from Caroll, who was also nominated to become the next party leader, and ultimately emerged unopposed for the deputy role.
“It is such a deep honour and privilege to be in the position to be heading to Government House and to be sworn in as Premier of Victoria,” Allan told reporters after the party room endorsement.
In securing the top job, Allan will become the state’s second woman premier and the first from regional Victoria in almost a century.
First elected to the Victorian Parliament in 1999 as the Member for Bendigo East, Allan has occupied a wide range of portfolios, covering education services, regional development, and public transport.
Allan served as deputy premier since June 2022, operating alongside factional ally Andrews, and filled in as Acting Premier in various stints across the pandemic.
Her most recent responsibilities include the transport, infrastructure, and Suburban Rail Loop portfolios, overseeing one of the state’s largest construction projects.
Notably, Allan also served as Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery before the state government sensationally backed out of its 2026 hosting plan.
Caroll will take the deputy role after recently operating in a cluster of business-facing portfolios.
The Member for Niddrie has operated as Minister for Industry and Innovation, Minister for Manufacturing Sovereignty, and Minister for Employment since December 2022.