Victorian Labor Premier Jacinta Allan has unveiled a new ministry just a day after three ministers resigned from her cabinet ahead of the November state election.
The new ministers were chosen at a Labor Caucus meeting on April 14 with the elevation of Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke, Eureka MP Michaela Settle, Kororoit MP Luba Grigorovitch, and Box Hill MP Paul Hamer.
Juliana Addison MP told reporters the four ministers were elected unopposed and would make a “huge contribution to this state and to the cabinet.”
Premier Jacinta Allan will unveil their portfolios at a swearing-in ceremony a day later.
“We are united because we share a value set serving working people,” she said.
What Are Their Backgrounds?
Edbrooke, 47, is a former firefighter and teacher who was elected to Frankston in 2014. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and one in Education from Monash University. In 2023, he survived a light plane crash.
Settle, 61, is a single mother of two sons from regional Victoria. She has a background in media and public relations and was first elected to parliament in 2018.
Grigorovitch, 40, from Melbourne’s west, holds a double degree in business and arts from Victoria University. A former Rail, Tram and Bus Union state secretary, she was elected to parliament in 2022.
However, Grigorovitch has attracted controversy due to her links to former CFMEU leader John Sekta. However, at a press conference on April 15, Grigorovitch assured the public she had not spoken to Sekta for a “very long time.”
“The reality is I was a union secretary for 10 years. I have a long and proud record of standing up for working people day in and day out,” she told reporters.
Hamer is a former civil engineer who was elected to parliament in 2018. He is from a Jewish family, and his father is a Holocaust survivor.
The move comes after three senior Labor ministers retired from the Labor cabinet including Mary-Anne Thomas, Danny Pearson, and Gayle Tierney.
In response, Shadow Attorney-General James Newbury claimed the “ship is sinking”
“Time’s up. It’s time for change,” he said on X.
Nationals Select Candidate to Take on Allan
Meanwhile, the Victorian Nationals have chosen a candidate for Bendigo East to challenge Allan in her own seat.
Andrew Lethlean is a regional Victorian pub owner who has operated hospitality businesses in the area for the last 24 years.
The new candidate claimed locals in the electorate were “fed up with Labor” and that the economy, housing, and local roads were key issues.
“Families are struggling with cost-of-living pressures, crime in Bendigo is at an all-time high, our local roads are in horrible condition, and the younger generation are struggling to buy their first home because the government has dropped the ball on housing,” he said on April 14.
The One Nation Factor
Ahead of the November state election, multiple polls have showed the conservative-leaning One Nation gaining ground in Australia’s second-most populous state.
A Sky News Pulse poll conducted by YouGov in April showed the party winning 26 percent of the primary vote compared to 25 for Labor and 21 for the Coalition.
“Victoria is shifting and the message is clear. One Nation is leading the polls, overtaking the major parties and proving that Victorians are ready for real change,” One Nation Victoria said on April 9.
However, how the preferences fall could still determine how many seats One Nation actually secures.
Meanwhile, One Nation Victoria expressed optimism at their chances of a strong showing at the May 2 Nepean by-election triggered by the resignation of former Deputy Liberal Leader Sam Groth.
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