Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has resigned as leader of the Labor Party and as premier, a day after she was pressured to step down by a cross-factional delegation of ministers.
Allan threw her support behind Deputy Premier Ben Carroll to take over as leader during a caucus meeting on July 28 with Gabrielle Williams from the Left faction expected to be deputy premier.
“I am making this decision because it is the right thing for the Labor Party and the Victorian people,” she told reporters.
“I leave immensely proud of what we have achieved these past three years.”
A teary Allan expressed regret that she would not be taking the fight to the centre-right Liberals and the conservative-leaning One Nation at the November state election.
Victoria’s 49th premier, who took over from Daniel Andrews, said that during her time two Liberal opposition leaders, Brad Battin and John Pesutto, had been dumped.
“I would have absolutely relished the fight this November,” Allan said.
She advised women who want to get involved in politics not to “look at what I have experienced this week. Look at the support I have experienced in my career …”
Allan, 52, joined the Labor Party at the age of 19 and has represented the seat of Bendigo East since 1999. She took over as premier from Andrews in September 2023.
Had Allan contested the ballot, the process would have involved not just Labor MPs but also the party membership and could have taken weeks.
Allan said during her speech that the process would have consumed valuable resources so close to an election.
“More importantly, it puts the state in a position of uncertainty. That hurts the Victorian people, and I just won’t do that [go through a leadership ballot].”
Allan also declared One Nation the “biggest risk at this election” and claimed a combined conservative and Liberal government would cut funds to hospitals and schools.
