Less than four months before Victoria heads to the polls, early signs suggest Labor’s leadership change has yet to shift voter sentiment. Polling released today shows the Coalition maintaining its lead despite the replacement of Jacinta Allan with newly sworn-in Premier Ben Carroll.
The results will be closely watched by Labor strategists, who are hoping Carroll’s appointment can help reset the government’s standing and improve its prospects of securing a fourth consecutive term.
In his first major move as Victoria’s 50th Premier, Carroll today unveiled a streamlined election Cabinet, sharpening the government’s focus on five key election battlegrounds: cost of living, jobs, community safety, health, and education.
Transport was conspicuously absent from Premier Carroll’s Cabinet announcement today. While Paul Hamer will be the Minister for Roads and Road Safety and Vicki Ward will take on responsibility for public transport, the Premier appears to have shelved the dedicated portfolios for Transport Infrastructure and the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL). It remains to be seen whether the new Premier will seek to change or scale back the $35 billion SRL East mega project to recalibrate transport spending to other areas.
The ousting of Jacinta Allan and the appointment of new Labor Premier Ben Carroll is yet to make a significant impact with voters, with polls out this morning showing that Victoria’s Coalition remains ahead in the lead-up to November’s election.
The latest Redbridge/Accent Research survey for the AFR has the Coalition leading on primary vote, 30 per cent to Labor’s 23 per cent and One Nation on 22 per cent. After the change in Labor Leader, the Coalition is still ahead on a two-party preferred basis, 53 to 47 per cent.
The polls follow One Nation’s announcement that state president and ADF veteran Warren Pickering will formally lead their Victorian election bid. Pickering and Pauline Hanson came under fire after stating their intention to remain tight-lipped on remaining candidates and policy platform until closer to the election.
With less than four months until the election and as new Ministers and advisers get their head around their portfolios, SEC Newgate is available to support you and your engagement priorities.
Colin Brooks is Victoria’s new Treasurer, taking over from Jaclyn Symes, who picks up the Energy and Resources and Environment portfolios. The Energy portfolio was freed up by the sudden resignation of former Premier Jacinta Allan’s ally Lily D’Ambrosio last week.
Newly appointed Deputy Premier Gabrielle Williams picks up responsibility for Victoria’s Education and training system, along with responsibilities for the Women, Gender Equality and First Peoples portfolios.
Tim Richardson has been promoted to Cabinet, taking on the portfolios of Local Government, Consumer Affairs and Renters. With three vacancies created by the resignations of Allan, D’Ambrosio and Health Minister Harriet Shing, Premier Carroll decided to elevate only Richardson to Cabinet during this reshuffle.
Sonya Kilkenny, who initially challenged Ben Carroll for the leadership last week, will remain Victoria’s Attorney-General and Minister for Planning and Family Violence Prevention.
Other major changes include a significant shake-up in the events and economic development sector, with Anthony Carbines swapping Police for Major Events, Medical Research, Economic Development, Racing and new portfolios for AI and Digital Economy, and Trade and Investment. Natalie Suleyman retains Tourism, Small Business and Veterans.
Former Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs and Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos has been shifted out of these key substantive portfolios to make way for Carbines. Dimopoulos has picked up the troubled WorkSafe and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) portfolio, with a slimmed down Sports portfolio.
Former firefighter and recently appointed Minister Paul Edbrooke will take over the Police portfolio from Carbines, as well as Crime Prevention, Emergency Services and Multicultural Affairs.
Ingrid Stitt takes on the Health and Ambulance Services portfolios to sit alongside her existing responsibility for Mental Health and Ageing.
Melissa Horne retains the Ports and Freight portfolio, but picks up responsibility for Jobs, Industry and Advanced Manufacturing and Defence Industry.
Housing and Building Minister Nick Staikos retains responsibility for Victoria’s housing system while picking up Precincts and the newly created Homelessness portfolio.
As the election campaign enters its final months and the new ministry settles into its priorities, SEC Newgate is ready to support your stakeholder engagement, advocacy and government relations objectives.
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