The Victorian government has unveiled the bank that will lead to the November state election after Friday’s exodus of four senior ministers.
Key points:
- Jacinta Allan had the unanimous support of the caucus for the role of deputy prime minister
- The roles of incoming ministers Colin Brooks, Sonya Kilkenny, Lizzie Blandthorn, Steve Dimopoulos and Harriet Shing will be confirmed on Monday
- Prime Minister Daniel Andrews dismissed questions about breaking factions’ conventions, saying “the best person should get the job”
Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan will act as deputy prime minister, becoming the second woman to hold the post in Victorian history.
Prime Minister Daniel Andrews said the caucus had voted unanimously to approve Mrs Allan, who is from the same socialist left faction.
Colin Brooks, Sonya Kilkenny, Lizzie Blandthorn, Steve Dimopoulos and Harriet Shing have been promoted to ministerial positions in the new cabinet.
On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education James Merlino, Health Minister Martin Foley, Police Minister Lisa Neville and Tourism Minister Martin Pakula announced they would not run in the November election, opting to resign. portfolios.
They were joined by Planning and Housing Minister Richard Wynne, who announced his resignation last year.
The state labor caucus met Saturday morning to vote on the deputies of the five ministers, who each held a series of key portfolios.
After testing positive for COVID-19 on Saturday morning, outgoing Mrs. Neville did not attend, saying on social media that “it wasn’t like I would have liked to have spent my last few days at work.”
The five new ministers will be sworn in on Monday, Andrews said.
Their specific roles have not yet been confirmed and some faction talks are expected before the official ceremonies on Monday.
On Friday, incumbent ministers Mary-Anne Thomas, Lily D’Ambrosio, Danny Pearson, Ben Carroll and Natalie Hutchins were promoted to new coordinating ministers of the health, environment, housing, employment and education portfolios respectively.
Coordinating ministerial posts are hand-picked by the prime minister and are generally the highest ministers, while other MPs take on smaller portfolios.
Portfolio-specific appointments and the role of deputy prime minister are chosen by the broadest caucus.
Allan continues to make history
Daniel Andrews has given his support to faction ally Jacinta Allan to fill the vacant deputy prime minister role. (AAP: Diego Fedele)
Mrs. Allan, 48, will be the second woman since Joan Kirner to hold the position of deputy.
The Bendigo East MP became the youngest Victorian MP when she was elected in 1999 at the age of 25, and the youngest minister in state history in 2002.
As Minister of Transport Infrastructure, he has put on his helmet to become one of the faces of the state government’s inherited projects to eliminate level crossings and boost public transport. It will keep the portfolio under promotion.
He has also occasionally taken on the role of Primera in office, even in late 2020, when he announced a tightening of COVID-19 restrictions and the closure of the New South Wales border just before the night of New Year’s Eve.
Ms Allan said today it was “humiliating” to take on the role, which she accepted with “a great sense of personal pride”.
“It’s a huge privilege, and I know it carries additional responsibilities, but it’s also based on the work I’ve been doing every day as a regional MP in Bendigo. [and] working on those portfolios, ”he said.
Mrs Allan’s appointment is a breach of the convention, where a left-wing prime minister in the party is counterbalanced by a right-wing MP.
Andrews again downplayed any faction displeasure with Saturday’s move, referring to leadership structures during the Bracks era.
“My judgment is that the best person should get the job, and I am accompanied in this trial by all my colleagues,” he said.
“[Ms Allan] she was the only candidate because she is the best candidate to become vice president. “
Key right-wing faction figures backed Ms Allan in Saturday morning’s vote, including Treasurer Tim Pallas.
The appointment means Mrs Allan is Mr Andrews’ likely successor as party leader, but both leaders dismissed any succession talks.
The new ministers continue with the gender balance
There were few surprises in Saturday’s announcement, with many of the incoming ministers promoted as some of the likely options by political experts.
Colin Brooks will step down as spokesman for the ministry. (Parliament of Victoria)
Bundoora member Colin Brooks will step down as spokesman for the lower house to take on the new ministerial role.
Carrum MP Sonia Kilkenny has held the marginal seat since 2014 and served as parliamentary secretary between 2018 and 2020. She now serves as cabinet secretary.
Lizzie Blandthorn is the state member of 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 Prime Minister.
Harriet Shing (center) is based in Gippsland (ABC News)
Upper House MP Harriet Shing, representing East Victoria, currently holds a number of parliamentary secretarial functions, including the creative and water industries.
The new ministers are a mix of left-wing and right-wing faction members.
The prime minister has used remodeling to emphasize gender equality in his cabinet, with 50 per cent of women on the management team.
The appointment of Mary-Anne Thomas and Lily D’Ambrosio to senior management has helped increase the gender ratio to more than 50 percent of women. (Supplied / ABC News)
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 over education.
Mrs Thomas previously served as Parliamentary Secretary of Health and Cabinet Secretary before being transferred to her current post. On Friday, Mr Andrews said she would be an “exceptional health minister”.
Opposition leader Matthew Guy has criticized the high turnover rate of the paper, alleging that instability has contributed to Victoria’s ongoing health crisis.
Posted 2 hours, 2 hours ago, Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 1:12 AM, updated 18 minutes ago, 18 minutes ago, Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 2:55 AM