Ben Carroll will want to distance himself from Jacinta Allan's unpopularity – but will that be enough to save Victorian Labor? | Jon Faine
News Source
•Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:00:09 GMT
📰 What Happened
Columnist Jon Faine argues that Victoria's new premier Ben Carroll will try to distance himself from his predecessors. Carroll will avoid the 'Dan Andrews look' — never wearing a North Face jacket. He needs to establish his own vision, something Jacinta Allan failed to do in three years as premier.
Allan's biggest mistake was offering more of the same big infrastructure projects without articulating her own vision. Level crossing removal was an unlikely vote-winner for Andrews, but Allan couldn't replicate that success. Another female politician has fallen to opinion polls and factional leaders.
🔍 The Backstory
Jacinta Allan took over from Daniel Andrews in 2023 when the polarising premier retired. She had three years to establish herself but failed to articulate a distinct vision, instead offering continuity of Andrews' agenda. Level crossing removal had been an unconventional but successful political strategy for Andrews.
Allan's resignation followed a 48-hour leadership crisis. The One Nation threat is significant for Victorian Labor, as the populist party has been eating into traditional Labor votes. Carroll inherits a party trailing in the polls with just four months until the state election.
🎯 Why It Matters
Victoria will have a new premier at the ballot box in November. Whether Carroll can save Labor depends on whether voters believe his promises of change are genuine.
Columnist Jon Faine argues that Victoria's new premier Ben Carroll will try to distance himself from his predecessors. Carroll will avoid the 'Dan Andrews look' — never wearing a North Face jacket. He needs to establish his own vision, something Jacinta Allan failed to do in three years as premier.
Allan's biggest mistake was offering more of the same big infrastructure projects without articulating her own vision. Level crossing removal was an unlikely vote-winner for Andrews, but Allan couldn't replicate that success. Another female politician has fallen to opinion polls and factional leaders.
Jacinta Allan took over from Daniel Andrews in 2023 when the polarising premier retired. She had three years to establish herself but failed to articulate a distinct vision, instead offering continuity of Andrews' agenda. Level crossing removal had been an unconventional but successful political strategy for Andrews.
Allan's resignation followed a 48-hour leadership crisis. The One Nation threat is significant for Victorian Labor, as the populist party has been eating into traditional Labor votes. Carroll inherits a party trailing in the polls with just four months until the state election.
Victoria will have a new premier at the ballot box in November. Whether Carroll can save Labor depends on whether voters believe his promises of change are genuine.