Updated ,first published
Premier Jacinta Allan has warned of “upheaval” from a One Nation government in Victoria, as she tries to shift her party’s focus away from its leadership and towards the threat posed by Pauline Hanson’s populist movement.
The comments are a tacit acknowledgment by Allan that when the Victorians go to the polls in November, the biggest challenge to Labor staying in power may come from One Nation rather than its old political rival, the Liberal-Nationals Coalition.
There are new rumors about Allan’s leadership in the Labor party session, fueled by internal and external polls showing that One Nation, the party that has not announced a leader in the state of Victoria, is now the most popular political party in the state.
Labor MPs are anxiously awaiting the results of the next Political Monitoring Settlement, due to be published by this topic next week.
Allan dismissed the leadership speculation as coming from a small number of unknown, “navel-gazing” MPs and said Victorian politics was being reshaped by a seismic shift in voter sentiment driven largely by forces beyond its control.
“We don’t need an election to tell us that the old rules of politics are changing, and we have seen how the global economic shocks hit people hard,” he said Tuesday.
“One Nation is eating the Liberal Party vote, the National Party vote, and I’ll also agree that it’s taking a chunk out of the Labor vote as well. We have to see that, hear that, understand that, continue to listen to the Victorians, but more importantly, take action to help people right now with those pressures that are real.”
Allan, Labour’s most experienced MP and the state’s premier since September 2023, is seeking to convince an increasingly nervous assembly that he is the best man to lead his party for a historic, fourth consecutive term when the election is held on November 28.
He strongly rejected the idea of standing aside if a leadership challenger capable of boosting Labour’s electoral prospects were to step forward in the coming weeks.
“I am absolutely determined to see this through,” he said. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going and I’m in.”
Deputy Prime Minister Ben Carroll, a policy pioneer who is backed by the right wing of the Labor party, is considered a possible candidate to replace Allan, but has not announced himself as a challenger. This head of the stars does not know that there are any MPs seeking support for a change of leader.
Allan’s declaration that under no circumstances will he voluntarily step down complicates the task facing any challenger. Under the party’s rules, adopted to counter the instability of the Rudd-Gillard era in Canberra, a new Labor leader would need to win a general assembly vote and a vote of party members.
The Conservative Party has not had a leader since 1999, when Steve Bracks ousted John Brumby before that year’s state election. Brumby gave up the lead rather than lose it by spilling.
Allan on Tuesday took a swipe at his opponents, saying hard work is the way to help voters deal with tough economic conditions and uncertainty. He said no one in his party approached him to suggest he stand down.
“I will continue to do that work because the next election is about choice. It is a choice between a Liberal Party that could cut this state to the bone – cut hospitals, divide schools – and a One Nation outfit that is about chaos and division. That is not the future Victoria needs.”
The new leadership speculation was fueled by last week’s uncertain policy announcements, when the Victorian government committed to reforms to strengthen the state’s top anti-corruption body and introduce legislation in response to a High Court decision to strike down Victoria’s campaign finance laws as unconstitutional.
More broadly, it reflects growing anxiety within Labor circles over the orange wave now expected to hit suburban Victoria and Melbourne at the state election.
Health Minister Harriet Shing, a close supporter of Allan, backed him to stay in the job.
“He has made it very clear that we need to build things to create a better Victoria, not just now but for our children and their children,” Shing said. “He has managed to deliver more homes, he has stood firm against constant opposition and division from the Liberals, from the Nationals and now, from One Nation.”
Shing added: “I am very proud to stand with the Prime Minister.”
Next week’s parliamentary session, where the Labor caucus will meet for its regular meeting, is the last before the six-week winter break.
on friday, Age spoke to eight Labor MPs in the division who, on condition of anonymity to avoid repercussions, said frustration with Allan was growing, and a challenge could arise before the election.
Others argued that a spill was far from a sure thing. They all agreed that the constant talk about the specter of poor One Nation and Labor polls was contributing to the state of disarray within the party.
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Chip The Great leads our state politics reporting team. He was previously the editor-in-chief of the magazine and is a writer with 30 years of experience.Connect via email address.
