Ben Carroll has replaced Jacinta Allan as Victoria's Premier and immediately announced a royal commission into the "Big Build" scandal, but let's not kid ourselves that the possibility of corruption was the reason Allan was forced to resign, writes Michelle Pini.
Victorian Labor Premier Jacinta Allan has resigned. It comes as no surprise to those who have witnessed the coordinated and consistent media attacks aimed at this premier and her predecessor, Dan Andrews.
The roadside billboard truck advertising featuring Allan's photo accompanied by a “ditch the witch” slogan – previously reserved for another Labor leader, former PM Julia Gillard – was also a big clue that Allan’s days were numbered, since the media reporting of this disgusting stunt was tolerant, if not openly enthusiastic.
BIG INTEGRITY AND PREMIERS
Allan did herself no favours by refusing to call an inquiry into the Big Build union corruption allegations — something incoming Premier Ben Carroll announced before he had even been sworn in after winning the party vote to replace Allan.
Of course there should be a proper inquiry into these allegations and any possible corruption as may exist.
However, let’s not kid ourselves that Jacinta Allan is gone because of the possibility of corruption.
If public integrity were enough to forcibly bring down premiers in general, then former Liberal Premier Denis Napthine would have had to resign and face an inquiry over awarding a $1.5 million grant to a close personal friend with whom he owned a racehorse.
If the possibility of corruption were a requirement for premiers to stand down, former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian would have been replaced way before she chose to resign over the Wagga Wagga gun club scandal, over which NSW ICAC later found she had engaged in serious corrupt conduct.
Rather than contest another election, her successor, Dominic Perrottet, would similarly have been forced to resign pending investigation of his involvement in the same scandal.
We could go on.
However, as we have said before, if you are not the favoured media club pick – which is only possible if you are a member of the Coalition or, in more recent times, One Nation – and if you also happen to sit next to, or adjacent to, anyone who may have ever faced corruption allegations, then you will be forever tainted. And if those rumours involve any connection with unions, as opposed to big business, then a royal commission will be demanded on a daily basis until one is called or you step down, or both.
THE STORY
Nonetheless, Despite Labor winning the last three elections under the same leader – Dan Andrews – and decimating the Liberal Opposition in the process, and this week’s departure of the Victorian Premier happening swiftly and without the media’s predicted pushback from Allan or imagined subsequent party disunity, the media all ran reports of similar flavour.
It was a “chaotic” leadership spill; had “descended into chaos”; was “unhinged”; a “wild caucus meltdown”; and Ben Carroll will be trying “to revive a chaotic Labor Party".
OPPOSITION 'UNITY'
Interestingly, if unsurprisingly, the Victorian Liberal Party, the one that has had more leaders in the past two years than lobster dinners, is now pointing the finger and accusing Labor of being a "sinking ship".
The Liberals are apparently a united team now that Jess Wilson has been Opposition Leader for all of eight months. That is, unless of course you count the Moira Deeming fiasco, where the former Liberal MP has so far either sued (or tried to have arrested) previous Liberal leaders and others, from the one who had her removed (and was subsequently bankrupted) to another previous leader and everyone in between — all while insisting she did not wish to create disunity. Good times — definitely not chaotic.
Wilson had previously endorsed Deeming, even writing her a personal reference in her bid for preselection. But you know, she has rescinded her earlier support, so nothing to see here. And you have to search hard to find any evidence in the establishment media.
FIXIN' IT WITH THE COALITION — ANY COALITION
If elected premier, Wilson – who has never even served a full term as MP – has promised to "fix the budget" by introducing massive funding cuts (naturally), as well as cease work on the Big Build and investigate corruption (if it involves unions).
Oh, and she will definitely abolish the planned Daniel Andrews statue because that money would be better spent elsewhere. Perhaps, but should someone remind Wilson it is only happening because of the 3,000-days-as-premier-statue policy introduced by former Liberal Premier Jeff Kennett?
Then there’s Liberal Leader (for now anyway) Wilson’s refusal to rule out a coalition with One Nation at the next election.
Meanwhile, One Nation, who are literally showered with donations, trips, planes and any manner of gifts from billionaires and assorted benefactors, are also claiming Labor has a "whiff of corruption" problem. You can’t make this stuff up.
BUILDING BIG
There is no doubt that the Big Build project is both ambitious and transformative. The ring road upgrade, the completion of an outer-suburban rail loop and an airport rail connection, over and above the already expanded roads and train stations, are expansive and will change Victoria for the better.
There is also no doubt it would simply never happen under a Liberal government — probably even less likely under a Liberal/National/One Nation coalition.
If some organisations employed to deliver the Big Build are found to be corrupt, they should of course face consequences.
But Victoria’s infrastructure still deserves to be upgraded. That is surely the point of state governments.
Despite Allan's unpopularity, Victorian Labor was only ever slightly behind in the polls, so the Liberal/National/One Nation celebrations may well be short-lived.
Follow managing editor Michelle Pini on Twitter @vmp9 and Bluesky @michellepini.bsky.social, and Independent Australia on Twitter at @independentaus, Facebook HERE and Instagram HERE.
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