Ben Carroll has become Victoria's 50th Premier, following 48 hours of internal party confrontations. He was elected unanimously after Sonya Kilkenny withdrew her nomination five minutes before the caucus meeting concluded at midday on Tuesday. Gabrielle Williams won the vote for deputy.
Carroll stated that he was approached by a delegation on Tuesday morning who asked him to stand for leader, having already informed the premier they wanted change. Former Premier Allan had initially refused to concede defeat and publicly declared on Monday she would fight for the leadership. However, by Tuesday morning, with the numbers against her, Allan resigned, stating it was "the right thing" for Labor and Victorians.
In his first steps as Premier, Carroll announced a royal commission into the construction sector "as soon as possible" and an immediate boost to the anti-corruption watchdog's powers. He also spoke of fiscal restraint, noting that Labor's debt is forecast to reach almost $200bn in coming years, and flagged plans to mend the relationship with the business community.
Questions remain regarding the future of the $34.5bn Suburban Rail Loop, with Carroll promising "more announcements" on the project's future.