Who will replace Daniel Andrews? A leadership battle breaks out between Jacinta Allan and Ben Carroll
Victoria could have its first female premier in more than three decades if Daniel Andrews goes for the door, but that’s not certain yet.
Labor MPs are meeting in Parliament to discuss a new leader to replace Andrews, who will take up office at 5pm on Wednesday and give up his seat in Mulgrave.
His deputy Jacinta Allan has put her hand up for the top job, but around midday it was announced that Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll is challenging Ms Allan.
Jacinta Allan, the woman favored to replace Daniel Andrews (second, right) as Victorian Premier, was in charge of the state’s canceled bid for the Commonwealth Games
Ms Allan told reporters as she walked into the Victorian Parliament: ‘There is a caucus meeting this morning, I look forward to joining my colleagues in the caucus and letting the usual caucus process take its course.
When asked if she had the support of her Labor colleagues, Ms Allan said she would respect them and let the usual process take its course.
Like Mr Andrews, Ms Allan comes from the Socialist Left group. Mr. Carroll belongs to the right-wing faction of the party.
If successful, Allan would be the state’s first female premier since Joan Kirner resigned in 1992.
Rules state that leadership nominations must be open for three days, but it is uncertain whether they will be followed if there is only one nomination.
Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes, who belongs to the right faction, told reporters she expected Ms Allan to run unopposed and believed a new prime minister would be chosen on Wednesday anyway.
Ms Symes has also ruled herself out of running in the election, saying she would wait to find out exactly who was running before backing a candidate.
Treasurer Tim Pallas arrived at parliament and did not rule out a change for the deputy role.
“I am still discussing this with my colleagues and of course it is important to see who the leader is and that that person has the opportunity to choose the person he wants to be his deputy,” he told reporters.
Mr Pallas said it would be up to the caucus to determine whether the three days should be kept.
Former federal opposition leader Bill Shorten said if the Bendigo East MP was successful, she would ensure all Victorians were represented on Spring Street.
“She is a very successful, accomplished female leader in her own right,” Mr Shorten told ABC Radio National.
“She comes from the region, she is a very experienced politician.”
Andrews announced his decision to resign during a press conference on Tuesday.
The outgoing Prime Minister mentioned thoughts on life after the top job, hinting that he could work in the private sector after his time off.
Mr Andrews became prime minister in November 2014, launching a first-term Liberal government and leading Labor to victories in 2018 and last year.
During the 2022 campaign and in the months that followed, he repeatedly said he would stay for the full four-year term.
His change of heart was a recent decision, he said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told ABC Radio Melbourne on Wednesday that Andrews was a strong leader and passionate Victorian.