Four MPs promoted to Victorian Labor’s new-look frontbench
Updated ,first published
Premier Jacinta Allan will make a sweeping reshuffle of her frontline team on Wednesday, moving senior figures into new portfolios to prepare Labor for the fight against November’s state election.
At the party’s meeting on Tuesday, Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke, Eureka MP Michaela Settle, Box Hill MP Paul Hamer and Kororoit MP Luba Grigorovitch were promoted to cabinet, and Grigorovitch was forced to immediately block criticism about her ties to controversial former CFMEU boss John Setka.
Labor sources who spoke anonymously Tuesday night detailing internal deliberations said Harriet Shing is the frontrunner to take over the key healthcare portfolio from Mary-Anne Thomas, who is retiring.
With three weeks until the state budget is due, these sources said they expect Enver Erdogan to take over the environment portfolio from Steve Dimopoulos, who will take over the economic growth responsibilities of outgoing minister Danny Pearson.
Colin Brooks, a qualified electrician, was expected to take over the TAFE and skills portfolio. Two MPs said they expected Police Minister Anthony Carbines to become leader of the government’s lower house.
Edbrooke was first elected to parliament when Labor came to power in 2014; Hamer and Settle were elected in a landslide election in 2018, and Grigorovitch entered parliament in 2022.
Hamer emerged as a late candidate for the fourth spot, pitting him against Mordialloc MP Tim Richardson, but he eventually gained enough support to move up. Supporters of Hamer and Richardson were frantically trying to rally support ahead of Tuesday’s vote.
Before his election, Grigorovitch was state secretary of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union from 2014 to 2022.
He was also a friend of Setka, prompting internal attacks that his connection to the former CFMEU chief could damage the government’s reputation. of the age Poor investigation into corruption on construction sites.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Grigorovitch said she had been a union secretary for almost a decade and had never hidden the fact that she had working relationships with numerous union leaders.
“I don’t walk away. I don’t leave my friends alone when things get tough, but I haven’t talked to John in a very long time,” he said.
When asked if he would take a phone call from Setka, Grigorovitch said it depends on what the call is about.
“I have a very strong and proud history of advocating for working people every day, and I continue to do that every day in the west. And now I have the opportunity to step forward as a minister,” he said.
Shadow attorney general James Newbury immediately attacked Grigorovitch’s promotion and argued that the position should be refused.
Grigorovitch said the opposition should focus on other issues important to Victorians.
“James Newbury means nothing to me,” he said.
Edbrooke worked as a firefighter and teacher. He made headlines in 2023 when he survived an emergency landing on a light aircraft and helped resuscitate a man who was struggling to breathe weeks later.
The Frankston MP said he had a keen interest in education, although he was unlikely to secure the portfolio from Deputy Prime Minister Ben Carroll.
“But I always wanted to make a bigger contribution and I think this is the way to do it,” he said.
Edbrooke once had a reputation as one of the MPs most likely to be kicked out of the chamber by the Speaker. Age He revealed in 2024 that he was sacked nine times that year, while Settle was ejected 12 times.
“I have not been removed from Parliament for at least three weeks during that period,” Edbrooke said. “I noticed that the speaker could hear my voice a little louder in the front row.”
Settle, a long-time regional Victorian, owned and operated a family sheep farm in Ararat for a decade. Hamer was a civil engineer before winning what was once a safe Liberal seat in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
Settle said portfolios were ultimately decided by the prime minister, but Allan knew he was passionate about improving services outside Melbourne.
“Of course I will always fly the regional Victorian flag around the cabinet table,” he said.
Hamer said he was honored to be a minister and is passionate about education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“If you asked me 10 years ago, would I see myself in this situation? I would probably tell you to quit smoking, whatever you’re smoking,” he said.
Allan will now appoint portfolios to these MPs as part of a wider cabinet reshuffle that will be confirmed on Wednesday.
The new ministers replace Thomas, Pearson and Water Minister Gayle Tierney, who resigned on Monday and confirmed they would not re-contest their seats in November. Natalie Hutchins had previously announced her retirement.
Allan and Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio are the only two remaining ministers from Daniel Andrews’ original cabinet, who were sworn in after the 2014 election.
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