Premier Jacinta Allan confirms Tim Pallas will remain as Treasurer as she prepares to unveil Victoria’s new-look cabinet

Jacinta Allan has confirmed Tim Pallas will continue on as Treasurer as she gets to work on allocating portfolios now she has been appointed Victorian Premier.

Ms Allan will spend the long weekend for the AFL grand final putting her stamp on the government after replacing Daniel Andrews in the state’s top job.

She said Mr Pallas had been an “outstanding” Treasurer since being handed the portfolio in December 2014, despite Victoria’s net debt set to hit $171.4 billion by 2026-27.

“He’s delivered nine strong Labor budgets that have had at their heart a focus on jobs, on responsible economic financial management, but also investing in the productive infrastructure, the services, that Victorian families rely on,” Ms Allan told reporters.

“And just a few months ago the Treasurer handed down a very important budget that stepped out that pathway towards returning to an operating surplus in the forward estimates period.

“But also recognising that having lived through a once in 100-year pandemic there needed to be a reconciliation of that investment that was made during the pandemic… about making sure businesses could stay open, that people could access the healthcare they needed.”

Victoria’s new-look cabinet is expected to be unveiled by the time parliament resumes on Tuesday, with Ms Allan “keen to hit the ground running”.

However it is also known Vicki Ward – most recently the parliamentary secretary for education – will be handed a ministry. 

Ms Ward appeared alongside Ms Allan and new Deputy Premier Ben Carroll at a press conference on Wednesday after the new leadership team was revealed.

“As we saw following yesterday’s caucus meeting, I was honoured to be supported unanimously by my caucus colleagues for the position of Premier, as Ben was supported unanimously for the position of Deputy Premier and we also welcomed a new minister in Vicki Ward,” Ms Allan said.

“She takes the number of women… to more than two-thirds of the cabinet table. That is, we were already at pretty historic levels around the cabinet table.

“That just pushes it to a new high and it speaks volumes to the approach that the Labor team have taken in terms of making sure that the people who sit at the cabinet table, the people who sit in the parliament representing their communities, are reflective of their communities.

“They reflect the diversity of this state and that is a team I’m honoured to lead and we step forward together with a strong sense of purpose.”

Ms Allan has ruled out taking on any additional responsibilities outside of being the state’s 49th Premier when the new cabinet is sworn in. 

She has been the minister for transport and infrastructure since December 2022, and for the Suburban Rail Loop since June 2020.

She had also been the Commonwealth Games delivery minister, until Victoria pulled out of hosting the 2026 event in July because of a major cost blowout.  

“I will continue the approach that premiers have traditionally taken and only hold the position of premier, noting of course that all business of government is the responsibility of the premier,” Ms Allan said.

“And the buck does stop at the premier’s door and that’s a responsibility I intend to carry forward.”

Opposition Leader John Pesutto said Ms Allan on Thursday had “already demonstrated that under her leadership, life will continue to get harder for Victorians”.

“Instead of articulating a desperately needed change of direction for our state, Jacinta Allan has defended decisions she made as a co-pilot for the past nine years that have left our state broke and humiliated on the international stage,” Mr Pesutto said.

“The Premier reaffirmed her support for a budget that will see record debt continue to climb and punishes Victorians with a new Rent Tax, Schools Tax, Health Tax, Jobs Tax and Holiday and Tourism Tax.”