Jacinta Allan to face leadership challenge from deputy as extraordinary Instagram post spells premier’s downfall

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan is set to face a leadership challenge after several MPs informed her she did not have the support of the party room.

9News understands several ministers and MPs from both factions of the party went to see Allan on Monday morning to inform her she had lost the majority of support within caucus.

It is understood they also urged her to stand down.

Deputy Premier and Education Minister Ben Carroll confirmed he would nominate himself for the leadership of the state Labor Party on Monday.

“A group of colleagues have approached me today, to inform me that Jacinta Allan no longer has the support of our caucus and have asked me to nominate for the leadership of the Victorian Parliamentary Labor Party,” he said in a statement on social media before midday.

“It is clear that the premier has lost the majority of our caucus. As such, I have since visited the premier to inform her that I will be nominating for the leadership of the Labor Party,” he said.

“This decision is not easy, but the stakes at the upcoming election are simply too high.

“The prospect of a Liberal-One Nation Government that will cut schools, health and front line services is simply too high a risk to ignore.”

Carroll fielded a number of calls last night urging him to put his name forward.

9News understands that six ministers and two backbenchers were part of the delegation that went to see the premier on Monday morning.

These included Anthony Carbines, Lizzie Blandthorn, Luba Grigorovitch, Colin Brooks, Gabrielle Williams, Ingrid Stitt, Ella George, and Mat Hilakari.

Allan sent a letter to State Secretary of the Labor Party, Steve Staikos, to prepare for a leadership spill.

She also stated her intention to stand for the leadership.

“I also wish to formally notify you of my intention to be a candidate for the leadership of the State Parliamentary Labor Party, in the event that an election is required,” the letter said.

Labor sources told the Australian Financial Review that opposition to Allan had grown during the National Labor Conference in Adelaide last week, with Allan cutting an “isolated” figure compared to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas.

“The more time people spent at national conference, and the more they talked about her, the more they said [Allan] is useless,” one Labor source said.

Allan has been under pressure for months, especially as she remains steadfast in her opposition to a Royal Commission into corruption surrounding the Big Build project.

She has also drawn criticism for failing to halt a spate of firebombings, arson attacks and stabbings in Melbourne.

The latest Redbridge poll showed Labor’s primary vote sitting at 26 per cent, one point behind One Nation and level with the Coalition.

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Several sources told that the premier was informed of the lack of confidence last night, but it remains unclear what a leadership challenge will look like.

Under current party rules, a new leader would have to be chosen by a caucus vote and a ballot of party members, which could take several weeks.

In the event of a leadership spill, the deputy leader would normally step in to run the government; however, current second-in-charge Carroll is expected to be the frontrunner to take the top job.

If both Allan and Carroll are leadership candidates, an interim leader would have to be appointed, potentially having huge ramifications on the function of government ahead of the November election.

It remains to be seen if Carroll, currently the education minister, will actively challenge Allan or try and wait for her to stand aside.

Carroll publicly ruled out challenging Allan for the leadership during a press conference last month, where he looked the premier in the eye as he made his promise.

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“I’ve got a young daughter at home, and I couldn’t be more proud to make sure that she grows up knowing that I supported Jacinta Allan to be a world-class premier and get re-elected in her own right,” Carroll said.

However, sources close to Carroll have told The Age that he was “reconsidering his position” on Monday morning.

Sources told the AFR that if Carroll was to become premier, he would announce a Royal Commission into CFMEU corruption within the Big Build project.

However, Opposition Leader Jess Wilson claimed a change of leader would not change the fortunes or perception of the government.

“It doesn’t matter who leads the Labor Party because this Labor government is a corrupt government and every single minister and MP has stood by while this government has refused … to call a royal commission into the largest corruption scandal in this state’s history,” Wilson said.