Leadership rumblings fall flat as premier survives
Jacinta Allan will live to fight another day as Victoria’s premier after a leadership contest failed to materialize despite weeks of speculation and falling support in the polls.
Victorian Labor MPs have applied for a final caucus meeting on Tuesday morning before parliament reconvenes at the end of July.
This was seen as the last chance for MPs to replace their leaders unless a special meeting was called in mid-winter.
But the leak momentum came to a halt after Ms Allan’s internal rival, Deputy Prime Minister Ben Carroll, rejected a challenge on Monday.
Ms. Allan, who has been heavily criticized for rising state crime rates and allegations of corruption at government project work sites, entered the meeting with Mr. Carroll and others following her in a show of support.
After the 30-minute meeting, the prime minister said he would “absolutely” lead Labor into the November state election.
“We just had a great Labor Party caucus meeting where we were very clear that the next big week in parliament will be focused on working people,” he told reporters.
Mr Carroll described himself as a “marathon runner” when asked if he missed the chance to get the top job.
“No one talked to me about leadership,” he said, adding that he didn’t know where the whispers were coming from.
“It’s not coming from me.”
Victorian Labor has not changed leaders this close to an election since Steve Bracks replaced John Brumby as opposition leader in March 1999.
Mr Carroll said the premier was delivering a message of unity, discipline and letting Victorians know what was at stake in November.
He did not say whether Ms Allan was specifically addressing the leadership speculation.
“There was always a line under this,” the deputy prime minister said.
“I have been a loyal MP for three years and will continue to be.”
With the meeting in the rearview mirror, Victorians hoped Labor MPs were starting to focus on the election and the challenges ahead as they did not want to hear about domestic politics.
“You watch us win in November, you watch the papers the next day,” he said.
“We will turn this situation around.”
If Labor does not reverse its slide in the polls, the meeting may not be the end of leadership rumblings for Ms Allan.
Nine newspapers’ latest Victorian Resolve poll, a twin survey of 1,100 voters in May and June, showed support for Labor falling by one point to 26 per cent.
One Nation’s primary support rose three points to 24 percent, while the coalition’s support fell three points to 26 percent.
Almost a third of Labor voters said Allan’s government did not deserve another term.
Asked whether Labor would choose One Nation to come last in the state election, Ms Allan said the party’s view of Pauline Hanson’s populist party had never changed.
“What has changed is the Liberal party,” he said.
“The Labor Party has been consistent and clear on this question for decades.
“We now see the Liberal party abandoning any sense of decency and principle… It existed in the 90s, it doesn’t exist today.”
In order for the coalition to rule with a majority, it must win at least 16 seats in November; This means an agreement with One Nation may need to be reached to seize power if parliament is suspended.
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said the Allan government had taken its eye off the ball.
“We’re seeing a government that’s not focused on Victorians, they’re focused on themselves,” he said.
“We’re focused on making sure we’re listening to Victorians and outlining our plan and our vision for this state.”
