MELBOURNE — New Premier Ben Carroll has sworn in a refreshed Victorian Labor cabinet, betting on “renewal and stability” and balancing party factions to carry the government to a historic 4th term at the 28 November 2026 state election amid surging One Nation. The reshuffle follows the 28 July resignation of Jacinta Allan and the April retirements of 4 senior ministers.
The Premier said, ” Today I am unveiling a new Cabinet – a Labor team ready to deliver a new direction for Victorians. My team is experienced and united, focused on getting things done. I have reduced the Ministry. This is a simple measure I can make right now to save taxpayers money.
Because every dollar my government spends will be treated with respect and only where it delivers the greatest value for Victorians. Together, we will ensure our Cabinet earns the trust Victorians place in it.
That includes a new Cabinet role to back AI and digital technology, growing our economy and jobs.”
NEW MINISTERS & BIG MOVES
Promoted to Cabinet:
1.Sonya Kilkenny MP – Attorney-General, Planning, Prevention of Family ViolenceRight faction powerbroker. Gets the state’s top legal job.
2.Tim Richardson MP – Local Government, Consumer Affairs, RentersLeft. Tasked with selling Labor’s cost-of-living pitch.
3. Michaela Settle MP – Agriculture, Rural & Regional Development, WaterLeft. Key frontline against One Nation’s regional push.
4.Ingrid Stitt MP – Health, Mental Health, Ambulance ServicesLeft. Inherits Labor’s most troubled portfolio 4 months out.
5.Nina Taylor MP – Cabinet SecretaryLeft. New to cabinet.
6.Paul Edbrooke MP – Cost of Living, Renters, Men & BoysLeft. New portfolio created to target hip-pocket issues.
7.Paul Hamer MP – Youth Justice, Corrections, Local GovernmentLeft. Promoted in April reshuffle.Luba Grigorovich MP – Youth, Carers & VolunteersLeft. Promoted in April.
Retained heavyweights: Nick Staikos – Housing/SRL, Vicki Ward – Emergency Services, Ros Spence – Roads.
WINNERS
Labor Left: Got Health, Housing, Regional, and Cost-of-Living portfolios. Controls the election narrative.
Ben Carroll: Secured leadership unopposed and kept factional peace. No frontbench sackings.
Sonya Kilkenny: Biggest winner. Jump to Attorney-General cements her as a future leadership contender.
Regional Labor: Michaela Settle’s promotion signals a full fight for the bush against One Nation.
LOSERS
Jacinta Allan: Ministry dissolved. Era ends with 3 years as Premier.
Retiring ministers: Natalie Hutchins, Mary-Anne Thomas, Danny Pearson, Gayle Tierney leave big gaps in Health, Finance, Women’s portfolios.
Labor Right: Kept senior roles but ceded most “voter-facing” portfolios to the Left.Tim Richardson: Missed out in April but got a job in July. Seen as having lost the initial preselection battle to Edbrooke/Settle/Hamer.
With 115 days to polling day, Carroll’s message is discipline over drama.
But challenges are immediate:One Nation launched its campaign 3 Aug and is polling #1, targeting regional seats.
Health, Housing, Crime remain Labor’s biggest liabilities.
Factional truce holds for now, but a bad result in November will reopen leadership debates.
Carroll: “This team is focused on delivery, not division.” Opposition Leader Brad Battin called it “12 years of Labor, just with new nameplates.”
