New Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan flags changes to Daniel Andrews’ centralised decision making processes

The newly sworn-in Allan Government will need to quickly but efficiently make key changes to the Victorian Cabinet and Public Service to ensure “new policy priorities” are implemented effectively.

Taking her first question as Premier from Sky News Australia, Jacinta Allan flagged changes to the bureaucracy which, under Daniel Andrews, centralised decision making in the Premier’s Private Office with dozens of staff who had direct access to the former leader.

“So, if you can give me a little bit of time in terms of coming back into signaling some of those policy changes.  That in turn will also potentially see some other machinery of government changes that we will work through in the usual way,” Ms Allan said. 

“And there is also, a process that needs to be followed in terms of receiving incoming briefings from the Department of Premier and Cabinet. Because there is a lot to do.”

However, in an interview with ABC Radio Melbourne Mornings host Rafael Epstein on Thursday, Ms. Allan flagged the Premiers Office would maintain primacy for decisions and responses to media requests citing the need for a consistent message.

Sky News Australia understands a cabinet reshuffle under Premier Allan could take several days, and potentially not be finalised until after the AFL Grand Final on Saturday.

However, Premier Allan immediately secured key portfolios which she spearheaded in her time as an Andrews Government Minister.

After arriving at Government House with her husband Yorick Piper and young children Peggy and Cormac – Ms. Allan was sworn in as the 49th Premier of Victoria by Margaret Gardener, the Governor of Victoria.

Soon after she swore an oath of office, Premier Allan resigned the portfolios of Transport Infrastructure and Suburban Rail Loop under her commission in the Andrews Ministry, to only then quickly assume those roles back and be sworn in under those portfolios as a Minister in the Allan Government.

On Thursday, Minister Allan confirmed she would relinquish those positions by Tuesday’s return of Parliament and appoint another minister to take those cabinet responsibilities. 

“I’ll only hold the position of Premier,” she said.

It is not unusual though for Premiers of Victoria to assume other portfolios, with the previous Liberal Premier Denis Napthine holding the portfolio of Racing while in the top job until December 2014.

Premier Allan’s cabinet reshuffle will see her hand her Transport and Infrastructure and Suburban Rail Loop responsibilities to another Minister.

The premier confirmed Treasurer Tim Pallas will retain his ministerial position.

Her new deputy, and factional rival Ben Carroll, already a minister in the Transport Department under the cabinet position of Public Transport – could take on further responsibilities.

However the new Premier could reward factional allies and or loyal colleagues by overhauling the ministry and reshuffling portfolios.

It appears, some positions have already been secured, with the Treasurer under the Andrews Government Tim Pallas declaring he would remain in after unsuccessfully becoming Deputy Premier following an endorsement by the Socialist Left.

“I’m very happy (about my future) my future is treasurer and I’ll produce a budget in 9 months’ time,” he told reporters as he left Parliament House.

Jacinta Allan also became emotional when reflecting she was the second female premier to be sworn in, following in the footsteps of her political idol Joan Kirner who served between 1990-1992.

When Jacinta Allan entered the Parliament as a 26-year-old in 1999, few, except the Premier at the time, Steve Bracks, may have imagined that the girl from Bendigo could have become the leader of Victoria.

Mr. Bracks told the Herald Sun when she was elevated to his cabinet alongside another 29-year-old, Tim Holding, “one of those two will go on to be premier”.

Now, Victorians have a Premier who is from the regions, rather than the city.

Expect more media opportunities and events in rural Victoria, perhaps closer to Premier Allan’s electorate of Bendigo East, where she has commuted from under her ministerial responsibilities.

Often Minister Allan would spend two hours in the car back and forth from Melbourne to Bendigo to be with her family following a workday or decide to spend time at her Melbourne residence.

Sky News Australia visited Bendigo East last year in July when the then Minister Allan had become Deputy Premier.

Ms. Allan was warmly welcomed by local business leaders and friends at an event hosted by the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

At the time, one of the biggest concerns was the potential for an outbreak of foot and mouth disease and what impact that could have on Victoria’s vital agriculture sector.

Victoria Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Paul Guerra told Sky News at the time that he felt the Deputy Premier was “across the issue.”

Mr. Guerra today tells Sky News that the new leadership team will be great for Victoria, especially with the combination of Ben Carroll as Deputy Premier – who had earlier withdrawn a challenge to the leadership with support from the right faction.

“She will be great,” Mr. Guerra tells Sky News.

“She will bring a different approach, and if history is a pointer she will bring a refreshed inclusive style with business. It will be important for the future of Victoria,” he said.

Jacinta Allan also recently told the Herald Sun Bush Summit that more needs to be done to give Regional Victoria prominence at the cabinet table and in government decisions.

“A really important opportunity to have the conversations, what’s the great strengths of living and working and raising families in regional Victoria, but also too recognizing that there is always more work to be done,” she told reporters in Wodonga in August.

With a major debt challenge, huge infrastructure build and the lingering effects of Covid, work has already started, but the crucial decisions are yet to come.