Victorian Labor leadership crisis: Jacinta Allan resigns, Ben Carroll becomes premier

Consensus Summary

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan resigned on July 28, 2026, after a chaotic leadership spill, clearing the way for her deputy Ben Carroll to become the state’s new premier. The move followed a delegation of ministers and MPs informing Allan on July 26 that she no longer enjoyed majority support in the caucus. Carroll, who had previously ruled out challenging Allan, announced his candidacy after being approached by colleagues. The leadership spill was unanimously supported by caucus, avoiding a prolonged ballot process that could have delayed the state election scheduled for November 28, 2026. Allan’s resignation marked the end of her three-year tenure as premier, during which her leadership was overshadowed by scandals, particularly allegations of corruption in the state’s Big Build construction program.

Allan’s downfall was driven by factional pressure and declining public support, with her likeability rating plummeting to minus 36, according to Resolve Political Monitor. The opposition leader, Jess Wilson, maintained a significant lead in preferred premier polls, with 43% of voters favoring her over Allan’s 24%. Carroll’s rise to the premiership was swift, with his first act being the announcement of a royal commission into alleged corruption in the construction sector—a move Allan had consistently resisted. The leadership spill was triggered by a meeting of factional conveners on July 26, 2026, which determined that Allan lacked the necessary support to lead the party to the election. Her refusal to step aside initially led to a tense standoff, but she ultimately resigned after Carroll declared his candidacy.

Key figures in the drama included Gabrielle Williams, who was elected as deputy premier, and Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny, who briefly put her name forward for the leadership during the spill. Allan’s allies, Harriet Shing and Lily D'Ambrosio, announced their resignations from the ministry and parliament ahead of the election, further reshaping the Labor frontbench. Carroll, who has represented the electorate of Niddrie since 2012, framed his premiership as a departure from the past, declaring, 'I’m not Daniel Andrews, I’m not Jacinta Allan.' His tenure as education minister had seen mixed results, including high Naplan scores in 2025 but also controversies like exam errors and the accidental publication of VCE cheat sheets in 2024.

While the core events of Allan’s resignation and Carroll’s ascension were consistent across sources, some details diverged. The Age reported that factional conveners had not adequately consulted MPs before the July 26 meeting, while ABC noted that Allan’s resignation was announced ahead of an expected spill motion she was tipped to lose. The Guardian highlighted Carroll’s long political journey, including his early unionism and work in insurance, while ABC focused on the chaotic nature of the leadership spill, including Kilkenny’s brief candidacy. The Age also detailed the internal resistance to Allan’s leadership, with some MPs accusing factional power brokers of orchestrating her downfall. Despite these differences, all sources agreed on the significance of the royal commission announcement and the urgency of the situation, given the election’s proximity.

The immediate aftermath of the leadership spill saw Carroll begin reshaping his ministry, with multiple MPs jostling for promotions. Allan, in her resignation speech, encouraged women to enter politics and expressed her support for Carroll’s leadership. The federal government, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, offered tribute to Allan, acknowledging her long service. Meanwhile, the opposition and One Nation party were quick to capitalize on the instability, with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson announcing her first candidate for the upcoming election. The leadership change also raised questions about the broader implications for federal Labor, as the Victorian election could serve as a cautionary tale for the Albanese government. With just four months until polling day, Carroll faces the challenge of restoring confidence in the Labor Party and addressing the corruption scandals that defined Allan’s tenure.