Jacinta Allan's premiership ends after less than three years amid scandals and falling polls

Jacinta Allan's tenure as premier of Victoria has concluded, ending a period of less than three years marked by persistent scandals and a significant drop in public support. Allan, who entered Victorian parliament at the young age of 25, has dedicated half her life to state politics.

Her premiership, sworn in by Governor Margaret Gardner in 2023, will not lead the Labor party into the next election. It was overshadowed by controversies tracing back to her predecessor, Daniel Andrews, and a steady decline in opinion polls.

Allan made history in 1999, becoming Victoria's youngest woman Member of Parliament at 25, unseating the Liberal Party in Bendigo East. She ascended to cabinet in the Bracks government in 2002. Under Andrews, she took charge of transport infrastructure, overseeing major projects like the Metro Tunnel and West Gate Tunnel. However, this portfolio also became a source of criticism.

Allegations of criminality within the construction union plagued her government, while cost overruns on infrastructure projects contributed to the state's net debt reaching $167.8 billion. The opposition has also criticized the Suburban Rail Loop as a drain on the state budget, with the Victorian Ombudsman noting "excessive secrecy" surrounding the project. The Airport Rail link has also faced repeated delays.

Allan became deputy premier under Andrews before the 2022 election, securing her position as heir apparent. She was sworn in as premier in September 2023, calling the role a "deep honor and a privilege." Her leadership focused on housing affordability and residential development, aiming to help millennials achieve homeownership. However, she faced internal criticism for failing to establish a distinct leadership identity separate from Andrews, who had governed for over nine years, including the challenging COVID-19 era.

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deep honour and a privilege