Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has declared housing, children and economic growth will be the key focus areas for her government after announcing her new cabinet.
The first Allan ministry was sworn in on Monday after the Premier spent the long weekend working through the allocation of portfolios having replaced Daniel Andrews.
Ms Allan settled on her cabinet with an eye firmly fixed on the next election, where she will be aiming to become the first woman in Victoria to lead a party to victory.
“The team that’s been sworn in today by the government is the team that I plan to lead to the November 2026 election,” she told reporters outside Government House.
Ms Allan, flanked by Deputy Premier Ben Carroll at the press conference, said she was “thrilled” to reveal the new ministry which includes a number of new portfolios.
Tim Pallas has taken on economic growth in addition to being Treasurer, while Sonya Kilkenny has become minister for the suburbs as well as being planning minister.
Ms Allan has also appointed a children’s minister. That role has been handed to Lizzie Blandthorn, who is also the disability minister.
The new Premier said while areas like infrastructure, transport and health continue to be priorities, she wanted to make it clear the government had widened its focus.
“The things that Victorians supported last November will continue to be the priority for the government,” Ms Allan said.
“But we are also signalling today those important areas of housing, children, strong economic growth will be the features of the government going forward.”
There is only one new face in the cabinet – Vicki Ward, who has become Minister for Prevention of Family Violence and Minister for Employment.
The other ministers have either retained their portfolios held under the leadership of Mr Andrews, or been handed different areas of responsibilities.
“I’m thrilled to present this team today. We are so keen to get to work following the events here in Government House this morning,” Ms Allan said.
“We’ll have cabinet today, parliament this week. Very keen to get to work as Victorians rightly expect us to do… delivering on those important matters for the Victorian community.”
Mr Carroll is one of the ministers with new responsibilities. He is now Minister for Education and Minister for Medical Research.
The rest of the ministry is: Jaclyn Symes (Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council; Attorney-General; Emergency Services), Tim Pallas (Treasurer; Industrial Relations; Economic Growth), Lizzie Blandthorn (Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council; Children; Disability), Colin Brooks (Development Victoria; Precincts; Creative Industries), Anthony Carbines (Police; Crime Prevention; Racing), Lily D’Ambrosio (Climate Action; Energy and Resources; State Electricity Commission), Steve Dimopoulos (Environment; Tourism, Sport and Major Events; Outdoor Recreation), Enver Erdogan (Corrections; Youth Justice; Victim Support); Melissa Horne (Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation; Local Government; Ports and Freight; Roads and Road Safety), Natalie Hutchins (Jobs and Industry; Treaty and First Peoples; Women), Sonya Kilkenny (Planning; Suburbs), Danny Pearson (Transport Infrastructure; Suburban Rail Loop; Assistant Treasurer; WorkSafe and the TAC), Harriet Shing (Housing; Water; Equality), Ros Spence (Agriculture; Community Sport; Carers and Volunteers), Ingrid Stitt (Mental Health; Ageing; Multicultural Affairs), Natalie Suleyman (Veterans; Small Business; Youth), Mary-Anne Thomas (Leader of the House; Health; Health Infrastructure; Ambulance Services), Gayle Tierney (Skills and TAFE; Regional Development), Vicki Ward (Prevention of Family Violence; Employment), Gabrielle Williams (Government Services; Consumer Affairs; Public and Active Transport), Steve McGhie (Cabinet Secretary).
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