Ben Carroll Sworn in as Victoria's 50th Premier

The Parliamentary Labor Party elected Ben Carroll as the 50th Premier of Victoria on July 28, 2026, following the resignation of Jacinta Allan. The transition occurred after a cross-factional delegation informed Allan she had lost majority support from her caucus. Allan resigned to avoid destabilizing the party through a leadership contest, despite stating she believed she would have won such a ballot.

The leadership transition was marked by internal volatility. Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny launched a surprise challenge, securing the support of 15 MPs, though reports indicate she later withdrew to prevent a prolonged process. Carroll, a former lawyer and education minister from the party's right faction, ultimately won the leadership unanimously. In a separate ballot, Gabrielle Williams defeated Steve Dimopoulos to become deputy premier.

Carroll inherits a challenging political landscape four months before the November state election. He faces sliding poll numbers, statewide teacher strikes over a pay dispute, and public concerns regarding community safety and corruption revelations tied to Big Build projects. Carroll noted that as a 12-year-old government, Labor must act as the "insurgent" to avoid a potential coalition between the Liberal Party and One Nation, which Allan described as the biggest risk of the election.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed support for Allan after her departure, acknowledging that politics can be a "very tough business."