Key facts
- Ben Carroll is vying to become Victoria's next premier.
- He previously served as public transport minister and education minister.
- Carroll has held numerous portfolios over six years in parliament.
- He was elected to parliament in 2012 and lives in his home electorate.
- Carroll has been involved in significant policy changes and exam controversies in education.
Ben Carroll, a prominent figure in Victorian politics, is emerging as a potential challenger for the state's premier position. His ambition follows a surprising bid in 2023 to lead the Victorian Labor party after Daniel Andrews' resignation, where he secured the deputy premier role despite an initial succession plan favoring Jacinta Allan and Tim Pallas. Carroll, who entered parliament in 2012, has held numerous portfolios, including public transport and education. During his tenure as education minister, Victoria saw strong Naplan results, but also faced significant exam errors and a "cheat sheet" bungle that led to the dismissal of the curriculum authority's board. He is currently overseeing protracted negotiations with the state's teachers, who have engaged in industrial action. Despite past denials of leadership aspirations, Carroll's name has been linked to a potential leadership spill, fueled by poor polling for the current premier, Jacinta Allan, and concerns about the "Big Build" project. If successful in becoming premier, Carroll is reportedly considering a royal commission into corruption allegations and aims to resolve the teachers' pay dispute and improve the party's economic standing.