Ben Carroll has been sworn in as the premier of Victoria after Jacinta Allan stepped down, with his first act as leader being the announcement of a royal commission into alleged corruption in the construction sector. The move comes just four months before the state election and follows a tumultuous 48 hours for the Labor party.
Allan resigned on Tuesday morning, saying she had decided to step aside despite believing she would have won a leadership ballot, because it was 'the right thing' to do for Labor and Victorians. Her resignation came after a delegation of MPs told her she no longer had the support of caucus and urged her to stand down.
Carroll, flanked by his new deputy, Gabrielle Williams, said he would also create the role of a special prosecutor to work alongside the commission and give the state's anti-corruption watchdog follow-the-dollar powers to investigate spending by private contractors and subcontractors. Allan had previously committed to introducing such laws only after the November election.
At a press conference, Carroll sought to differentiate himself from his predecessors, saying, 'Let me make one thing very clear: I am not Daniel Andrews. I am not Jacinta Allan. I will do things differently because different times require a new approach.' He said his government would focus on 'the basics', including good services, police support, and responsible spending.
Allan's leadership had been dogged by allegations of wrongdoing on the 'Big Build' infrastructure project, for which she was the minister responsible. While she apologised for criminal conduct uncovered, she rejected calls for a royal commission, putting her at odds with some MPs. The leadership contest also saw a brief challenge from Attorney General Sonya Kilkenny, who withdrew after Williams was appointed deputy.
