Key facts
- Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has made significant cabinet cuts and portfolio overhauls.
- Abolished portfolios include transport infrastructure, Suburban Rail Loop, cost of living, and men and boys.
- The cabinet size has been reduced by leaving two ministerial vacancies unfilled.
- Colin Brooks has been appointed Treasurer, taking on Industrial Relations.
- Gabrielle Williams will serve as Deputy Premier and take on Education and Women and Gender Equality portfolios.
- Anthony Carbines is the new Minister for AI and Digital Economy.
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has initiated a significant overhaul of his cabinet, abolishing several key portfolios and reassigning responsibilities just four months ahead of an election. Carroll, who took office a week ago, promised a "new direction" for the government, aiming for greater efficiency and a focus on core services.
The most notable changes include the elimination of standalone portfolios for transport infrastructure and the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL), which were hallmarks of the previous governments led by Jacinta Allan and Daniel Andrews. The cost of living and men and boys portfolios have also been scrapped. Carroll stated that infrastructure responsibilities will now be integrated into the portfolios of ministers overseeing health, roads, and public transport. He also indicated that the removal of the dedicated SRL portfolio does not signify the project's end, though questions about a review into the project remain unanswered.
In addition to portfolio changes, Carroll has slimmed down the cabinet by not filling two vacancies left by the resignations of Allan supporters Lily D’Ambrosio and Harriet Shing. While the annual savings of approximately $400,000 from ministerial salaries and allowances are modest compared to Victoria's projected debt of $200 billion, the move is seen as politically astute. It strengthens Carroll's position by reducing the influence of the Socialist Left faction and increasing the proportion of ministers aligned with him.
Key personnel shifts include Colin Brooks' elevation to Treasurer, a move welcomed by business groups for his pragmatic approach. Gabrielle Williams will serve as Deputy Premier and take on Education and Women and Gender Equality portfolios, with an immediate focus on engaging with the teachers' union to avert further strikes. Paul Edbrooke, a former firefighter, has been appointed to the high-profile Police, Emergency Services, and Crime Prevention roles, with his addition of multicultural affairs seen as a strategic move to counter populist rhetoric.
Ministers associated with the previous leadership saw shifts in influence. Steve Dimopoulos retained sport but lost major events and jobs, while Paul Hamer gained roads but relinquished corrections, youth justice, and local government. Sonya Kilkenny remains a senior minister, retaining her planning and attorney-general portfolios after agreeing to step down as a leadership candidate. Anthony Carbines, a close ally of Carroll, moves to the new role of Minister for AI and Digital Economy, alongside other economic portfolios. Ingrid Stitt takes on Health, and Enver Erdogan adds Finance and Government Services while retaining his previous responsibilities.