Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has dismissed recent speculation that she may be at risk of losing her leadership ahead of the November poll, describing it as “anonymous gossip.”
“I’ve got great support from my strong and united team,” she said.
Senior ministers have publicly backed Allan, including Consumer Affairs Minister Nick Staikos and Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos.
Staikos told The Sydney Morning Herald, “The party is united behind Premier Jacinta Allan and she will be leading us to the election,” while Dimopoulos claimed it was “absolutely ridiculous” that Allan’s leadership was being questioned.
Treasurer Jaclyn Symes also voiced her support, saying, “I’m right behind Jacinta Allan… This isn’t a popularity contest. This is about who is best for the job, and that’s Jacinta Allan.”
Anonymous labour insiders say the latest calls for a leadership change are being led by the same factional figures who previously failed to unseat Allan, amid fears her low popularity could hurt the party at the 2025 federal election.
While Labor’s better-than-expected result temporarily subdued criticism, recent polling indicates her unpopularity continues to weigh on the party’s prospects of winning re-election.
Under ALP rules introduced in 2013 following the Rudd-Gillard leadership turmoil, any leadership challenge is decided through a combined vote of party members and a caucus ballot, each carrying equal weight.
While replacing a sitting prime minister requires more than 60 per cent caucus support, it remains unclear whether this threshold applies to state premiers, and the rules have never been tested in Victoria since Labor’s last leadership spill in 1999.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
