A fraction shy of a decade since returning Labor to power in Victoria after its only term in the wilderness this century, Daniel Andrews has called it a day, effective 5pm tomorrow. This will result in a by-election for his loseable south-eastern suburbs seat of Mulgrave and the choice of a new Premier at a caucus meeting to be held at midday tomorrow. (UPDATE: It is noted that party rules require a three-day nominations period.) Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan has long been the heir presumptive, reflecting the dominance of her and Andrews’ Socialist Left faction, although her CV carries the unfortunate entry of “Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery June 2022 – July 2023”. However, the Financial Review reported in May that Ben Carroll of the Right had been “canvassing support in the event of an early exit” by Andrews.
The party has a strong incentive to fall behind a consensus choice, since party rules require a ballot of the membership unless 80% of caucus supports the winning candidate in a contested vote. Making Carroll deputy would restore factional balance to the leadership positions, but the Herald Sun reported in June that Mary-Anne Thomas, Gabrielle Williams and Lily D’Ambrosio of the Left might also be in contention. However, the latter’s stocks may have declined in light of recent branch-stacking controversies.
UPDATE: The Australian reports today’s caucus meeting is likely to choose an acting leader from among those who are not planning to nominate for the leadership in the three days available for them to do so, but the Financial Review hears different, saying the meeting is likely to hand the role to Jacinta Allan. An acting leader could be in place for some time if the leadership is contested, which would require a second contender to have their nomination endorsed by 20 per cent of the party room. There would follow a two-week campaign period before ballot papers were sent out to party members, whose votes would account for 50% of the result alongside the result of a party room vote.
The question would appear to be whether Ben Carroll of the Right, who is said to be canvassing support, goes the distance against Allan. Labor sources cited by The Age say the leadership is “Allan’s to lose”, but the Right could play hardball in forcing a vote if it is not assured of the deputy position. Anthony Carbines and Natalie Hutchins are mentioned as potential Right contenders along with Carroll, but Mary-Anne Thomas and Gabrielle Williams of the Left are also said to be interested. Carbines, Williams and Thomas, together with Colin Brooks, are further listed by The Australian as “possible but unlikely” contenders for the leadership.
Ben Carroll would not be running if he didn’t have some numbers sewn up!
I know little about him and little about Jacinta Allen – neither are household names up here in Sydney.
It’s a shame James Merlino left politics, he would have made a decent Premier.
EightES – I know. I don’t know why they have the rules if they don’t actually want to play by them.
Anyway, word I am getting from my sources is Allan has just won.
Carroll wanted to get the Treasurer gig but Pallas is in the way.
“Oh, no! Imagine the spectacle of a democratic vote of party members playing out in public, instead of a factional deal stitched up by a few powerbrokers behind closed doors.
How could the public tolerate such instability?”
The public need to see someone in the Premier of Victoria chair. In opposition nobody cares if there’s no leader for few weeks., but you can’t do that with a State.
Party MPs in Parliament know the candidates abilities far more than any of us punters. Andrews was basically unknown when he took over as leader. Speaking as a party member, I’d rather they are making the call than me.
It seems Jacinta Allan has been made leader with Ben Carroll as her deputy. Sounds like a deal has been made.
EightES says:
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 1:29 pm
A totally understandable mistake, B. S..
Every female politician is accused of not being able to juggle the competing demands of their job and motherhood, or of being out of touch with normal family life because they don’t have children.
And it all sort of blurs together.
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Queensland’s Previous State Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington bemoaned the fact that she had 3 children that she had to look after when she got back to her family home near Kingaroy after attending parliament but Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was childless, through no fault of her own having suffered two miscarriages, and therefore did not deserve to be Premier.
Frecklington also chastised Annastacia because the Premier wore designer clothing whereas she only wore jeans on the family farm near Kingaroy.
No wonder the women of Queensland voted against such a jealous, mean woman.
Congratulations, Premier Jacinta Allan (effective from 5pm I guess).
Ben Carroll deputy.
Yes it went as expected.
Ben Carroll will challenge her if the polls go south in the next 12 months, the immediate test for the new regime is the Mulgrave byelection – the Libs are sure to contest that one.
White smoke bellowing from 1 Treasury Place.
Did anyone have the intestinal fortitude to listen to Neil Mitchell’s ravings on 3AW this morning?
Labor probably learned from the U.K. Conservative party that a membership ballot can give you a leader like Liz Truss. They were careful to not let that happen twice.
On the other hand, that just meant they ended up with Rishi Sunak, so not exactly a colossal improvement.
Grant ExLibiris
Why would anyone listen to that windbag. Life is far too short.
I suspect the only circumstances in which we’re likely to see a ballot of party members for the leadership is when the position is vacant after losing government (as with Shorten-Albanese in 2013).
Yet another Labor woman Premier to add to the long list of females who have smashed the glass ceiling to smithereens and grinded it to dust.
Lets hope she can follow on from that other Labor Icon in Annastacia Palaszczuk and get her next three election wins.
Yes, 24 hours is a long time in politics.
goll @ #103 Wednesday, September 27th, 2023 – 1:36 am
I am wondering just how long it will take the media and Herald Sun in particular to start attacking Jacinta.
After the way they treated Gillard I doubt it will take long.
Just to respond
There are Global protocols re the Capitalisation of banks
So does a government invest into the requirements of the Balance Sheet of a bank or instead invest into public services?
It is fine to point to the profits being made in a risk industry but these profits are a return on Capital those profits deployed to maintaining the requirements of the Balance Sheet and to return a dividend to the Shareholders who with a State owned bank are taxpayers
So we get to the core question
Should governments be invested into the Balance Sheets of banks?
Noting there is virtually a lender of the last resort support as we saw with the GFC, the government endorsing bank paper for a fee such that that paper could be transacted on fractured global capital markets
To me there is some irony in the referencing of India – a Nation with the socio-economic profile it has
Mexicanbeemer says:
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 3:25 pm
The glass ceiling can only be smashed once so Jacinta shouldn’t be judged by her gender.
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True. Scratched, Chipped, Cracked, Crazed and Splintered and Smashed.
Being smashed is one thing but smashed glass ceilings don’t always fall down and if they do some bastard puts them up again.
Think Alan Jones trying to install a new glass ceiling at every opportunity while Julia Gillard was
Australia’s first Prime Minister.
Congratulations to Jacinta Allan. May she have a good and productive time as Premier and continue the positive legacy that Andrews left. I sincerely hope she doesn’t end up becoming yet another “that woman” who voters and other MPs feel comfortable taking out their grievances on.
Wat Tyler says:
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 3:45 pm
Congratulations to Jacinta Allen. May she have a good and productive time as Premier and continue the positive legacy that Andrews left. I sincerely hope she doesn’t end up becoming yet another “that woman” who voters and other MPs feel comfortable taking out their grievances on.
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It seems to come with the position, especially if its a woman Premier or PM.
At a lunch yesterday those exact words “that woman” were uttered when Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s name was mentioned while talking about Dan’s retirement.
Its always been the case with Labor Premiers and PMs because most of our media has been controlled by
right wing forces.
Just like Dan and Annastacia have overcome these attacks, I’m sure Jacinta will do the same.
98.6says:
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 3:40 pm
Mexicanbeemer says:
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 3:25 pm
The glass ceiling can only be smashed once so Jacinta shouldn’t be judged by her gender.
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True. Scratched, Chipped, Cracked, Crazed and Splintered and Smashed.
Being smashed is one thing but smashed glass ceilings don’t always fall down and if they do some bastard puts them up again.
Think Alan Jones trying to install a new glass ceiling at every opportunity while Julia Gillard was
Australia’s first Prime Minister.
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Alan Jones was a pig to Gillard but women are not new to politics and power and for gender equity to be achieved the person’s gender isn’t news. Jacinta comes to the job with more experience than Gillard had having been part of the Bracks Brumby and Andrews governments.
Article in the Guardian about the absolute vitriol spat out by writers in the Hun and the Oz. They let off the Age a bit lightly I think.
laughtong says:
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 3:23 pm
…..
I am wondering just how long it will take the media and Herald Sun in particular to start attacking Jacinta
My money is on the 28th/sept/2023. Treating the Herald/Sun with the contempt it deserves is the only path.
Wow a career politician who has been in parliament literally half of her life with no outside achievements is now leader of the 2nd state.
Not really an inspiring choice, considering this person has been on the government tit for a quarter of a century.
What a pity we don’t have term limits in this country.
At least the nepo-baby and other career politician, Miss Piggy, will be getting the boot next year in the Sunshine state
Mr Fujisays:
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 4:14 pm
Wow a career politician who has been in parliament literally half of her life with no outside achievements is now leader of the 2nd state.
Not really an inspiring choice, considering this person has been on the government tit for a quarter of a century.
What a pity we don’t have term limits in this country.
At least the nepo-baby and other career politician, Miss Piggy, will be getting the boot next year in the Sunshine state
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If Liberals want to run that argument they should have kept Malcolm Turnbull instead of Scott Morrison.
@Mexicanbeemer Libs should’ve stuck with Hewson instead of going to Downer in 94 by the same logic.
He would’ve made an excellent PM in the mould of a Brian Mulroney.
Keating would’ve overdosed smelling his own farts by 96 and Hewson would’ve easily beat the slob in 98.
citizen says:
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 4:07 pm
Article in the Guardian about the absolute vitriol spat out by writers in the Hun and the Oz. They let off the Age a bit lightly I think.
Albanese says attacks on Dan Andrews ‘low point in journalism’ as News Corp vitriol continues after resignation
Murdoch papers declare the premier’s electoral popularity was a ‘cult’ and his legacy nothing but a state ‘deep in debt’
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I love it !
These papers and all the other radio and TV right-wingers are suffering at the moment when they can’t see their lot regaining state or federal governments for the foreseeable future.
Let them say and print what they like.
They have always done it and Labor has survived and indeed I believe they have also benefited from the
bullshit being flogged by those mastheads because the voters can see how it is just CHILDISH PROPAGANDA, not unlike stuff you would read and see in North Korea denouncing the West or the
propaganda broadcast by ‘Axis Sally’ during World War 2.
When I read, hear and see those headlines, I say to them “Suffer, Baby, Suffer”.
I’ve known Jacinta for 25 years. She is whip smart and a hard worker. Victoria is in good hands.
I’ve met Ben Carroll a couple of times. He is very impressive. Was always very ambitious.
Good government will continue. Herald sun will spit chips.
Vic LNP a graceless bunch of goons.
Samantha Ratnam nailed the tribute in her response. Pesutto is toast. O
I wonder which religious fruit cake the Liberal Party is going to find to contest Mulgrave? Also how many other minors are going to stick there hand up and the Herald Sun report on “exit polling” conducted by all of them?
How’s Pesutto in today’s press conference saying today’s leadership caucus shows that Labor are divided, because the deputy wanted Jacinta Allan’s job.
Really? Somebody who won his leadership ballot by 1 vote and has had half his party gunning for him since is going to say that a unanimous decision for both positions means Labor are divided? LOL.
MABWM
Agree that the state is in good hands.
And the LNP are bad on every metric.
Elvis has officially left the building
I presume the only shuffling will be in the transport portfolios. Both Allan and Carroll’s portfolios were in transport and planning. Unless Allan wants a refresh new look.
I’ll be surprised if Premier Allan continues with infrastructure.
Repeating my theory from yesterday that the Liberals might not contest the Mulgrave by-election in order to give air to Ian Cook the Cooker Independent.
Or heck, wild card, Ian Cook runs as the actual Liberal candidate.
Kirsdarke @ #183 Wednesday, September 27th, 2023 – 5:04 pm
I can’t see the voters of Mulgrave supporting someone who is the exact opposite of Andrews.
I’ll be shocked if Labor doesn’t hold it comfortably.
@Rex Douglas
Same. For Labor to lose Mulgrave on its current polling it would have to be a catastrophic campaign on its part.
But hoping it’ll be a decent candidate, and a chance for the new Premier Allan to hit the ground running with campaigning for the by-election.
Maybe Hymie might come back to contest Mulgrave and have a 2nd crack at the leadership after losing out on the Consul General job
Mr Fuji says:
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 4:14 pm
Wow a career politician who has been in parliament literally half of her life with no outside achievements is now leader of the 2nd state.
Not really an inspiring choice, considering this person has been on the government tit for a quarter of a century.
What a pity we don’t have term limits in this country.
At least the nepo-baby and other career politician, Miss Piggy, will be getting the boot next year in the Sunshine state.
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You may have a point there Mt Fugi.
Maybe we should have a rule that no MP can be Premier or PM if they have been on the government tit (as you call it) or in parliament for say, more than ten years.
They must be over 30 years old to enter any parliament.
They must retire from parliament after their 60th birthday.
They must leave parliament after 3 terms as an MP.
They must retire from being PM or Premier after 2 terms.
Yes, that will work, won’t it ?
Today, I have noted that you are saying Queensland’s Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will be getting the boot next year and you may be right.
Today, I’m saying that Premier Palaszczuk will win the state election in October next year and I may be right.
Only 13 months to go to see whose right.
Rex Douglas says:
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 2:55 pm
White smoke bellowing from 1 Treasury Place.
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Vaping perhaps ?
MABWMsays:
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 4:45 pm
I’ve known Jacinta for 25 years. She is whip smart and a hard worker. Victoria is in good hands.
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You are aware that she was the Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery don’t you.
If she is whip smart then how the hell did she fuck that up so bad ?
Arkysays:
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 2:41 pm
Party MPs in Parliament know the candidates abilities far more than any of us punters. Andrews was basically unknown when he took over as leader. Speaking as a party member, I’d rather they are making the call than me.
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Money for old rope your membership fees. They don’t have to do much to keep you happy do they.
@Taylormade
I think she did a fine job in exposing the Commonwealth Games as an irrelevant waste of money carnival fuelled by the last remaining noxious fumes of the British Empire that should be given about as much deference as the Upper Class Twit of the Year competition.
Mr Fuji says:
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 4:14 pm
Wow a career politician who has been in parliament literally half of her life with no outside achievements is now leader of the 2nd state.
Not really an inspiring choice, considering this person has been on the government tit for a quarter of a century.
What a pity we don’t have term limits in this country.
At least the nepo-baby and other career politician, Miss Piggy, will be getting the boot next year in the Sunshine state
========================
@mr Fuji, what a classless gronk you are. Misogyny writ large.
LOL Taylormerd.
What Kirksdale said.
Considering that the actual muppet Miss Piggy is a dominating force of nature and glamorous feminist icon, it should be thought of as a compliment to be compared to her.
I think Anna P would gain votes by just hurling David Crisafulli off the debate stage while shouting “Hi-YAH!”
Probably wouldn’t happen, but fun to imagine.
@Taylormade – I am extremely happy. The Kennett years have given way to your mob of incompetent weasels only being in state government for 3 years since 1999. Why wouldn’t I be pleased with that? A run of very competent leaders with Bracks, Brumby, Andrews and now Allan, last thing I want to do is mess with a winning system.
Your blokes method of choosing leaders – you pleased?
Personally, I’m not the biggest fan of the modern Labor party’s tendency to shy away from holding ballots, but eh, not the end of the world. If there were people in caucus who objected to Allan becoming premier, they could have put up a candidate. While I am very much in favour of the party membership having a say in leadership ballots, given how dominant the left is in Victoria, I can’t imagine rank-and-file down there would have too much objection to the choice, nor can I see a candidate for the right coming close to winning a membership ballot. (And it’s not like the Liberals, who do caucus-only ballots, are exactly in a position to judge here.)
From what little I know about Allan, she seems like she’ll be fine in the role. Time will tell, as it always does.
Was Ben Carroll ever considered as a front runner for Premier before today’s meeting ?
Was Ben Carroll ever considered as a front runner for Deputy Premier ?
Was the act of putting himself forward for Premier a tactic to say
“I want to be Premier, I know I won’t win but you will all know that I want to be Premier one day and I will accept the role of Deputy Premier because normally Deputy Premiers are considered the likely
successors should the Premier leave office”.
Would Ben Carroll be Deputy Premier if he had not challenged for the Premiership ?
No doubt time will reveal all the answers.
F me. Boy I love Dan. I’ll miss you. To all Dans detrractors he was one of the greatest Labor men in history. Not as good but getting up there with Hawkey. So stuff off. To parody another great Labor motto “Dans our man. He understands”. You will be remembered as a party legend Dan. I haven’t spoken on this yet. To all who disagree P#SS OFF
Apologies if someone else has mentioned this already, and I’m probably a bit late to the party, the fuss has died down etc….but I will get to sleep in tomorrow.
The list of Dan’s legacies should include the Grand Final Holiday.
its totally unjustified. absolutely outrageous. Getting a holiday for a football match is scandalous…but I’ll take it everytime