Political Tensions in Victorian Labor
Recent developments within the Victorian Labor Party have sparked significant interest, particularly as state Labor MPs publicly show their support for Premier Jacinta Allan despite her low approval ratings. The premier, who currently holds the lowest approval rating among all state leaders in Australia at minus 37, has faced internal challenges from members of the socialist left faction.
According to reports from News Corp newspapers, members of the socialist left faction have engaged in secret discussions with the right wing of the party regarding a potential leadership spill against Ms. Allan. This move comes amid growing concerns about the party’s performance and its ability to secure a majority government in the upcoming November election.
Ms. Allan addressed the situation by dismissing the “anonymous gossip” from what she referred to as “a few scallywags out there that might need a bit of a cuddle.” She expressed confidence in her ability to remain premier until the polls open, emphasizing the strong support she receives from her Labor team.
Kos Samaras, a former Labor campaign strategist turned pollster, described the leaking of backroom discussions as “foolish.” He noted that such actions have been ongoing for months and suggested that the solution lies not in attempting to undermine the premier but in working together as a team.
A RedBridge Group/Accent Research poll published earlier in March revealed that Labor’s primary vote had dropped to 25 per cent. While the coalition also faces challenges with a similar primary vote of 28 per cent, the rising support for One Nation at 24 per cent presents a formidable obstacle for the coalition to secure the 16 seats needed for a majority government.
White-anting figures within Labor were criticized by Mr. Samaras as being “delusional” if they believed that removing the premier would resolve the party’s electoral issues. He pointed out that the premier’s satisfaction ratings are closely tied to the government’s performance, and any improvement would require collective effort from the entire party.
The prospect of ousting Ms. Allan as leader appears unlikely without some level of support from the socialist left faction, which she is part of and holds a majority within the Labor caucus. Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams, who belongs to the same faction, is seen as a potential replacement. However, she denied knowledge of any behind-the-scenes discussions aimed at installing her as leader or that she was “doing the numbers.”
“It’s idle gossip and we pay no attention to it,” Ms. Williams stated, indicating that such rumors are not taken seriously by her or her colleagues.
Deputy Premier Ben Carroll, a senior member of the right wing of the party, denied any involvement in plotting a tilt for the top job and affirmed that Ms. Allan would lead Labor to the next election. Police Minister Anthony Carbines expressed his unwavering support for the premier, while Treasurer Jaclyn Symes emphasized the solidity of the caucus.
Historically, Victorian Labor has not changed its leader this close to an election since March 1999, when John Brumby resigned following mounting pressure. Steve Bracks was then chosen as his replacement and led the party to an “unwinnable” election victory later that year.
