New Cabinet To Keep Delivering For Victorians

The Allan Labor Government will strengthen its focus on building the homes Victorians need into the future, with changes to the Victorian Cabinet announced today.

Premier Jacinta Allan today unveiled the new team which puts Victoria’s bold housing agenda at the core of its work – supporting the Labor Government’s target to deliver 800,000 new homes over the next decade.

Deputy Premier Ben Carroll will become Minister for Education, cementing Victoria’s status as the Education State. He will also become Minister for Medical Research, continuing our state’s work as a global leader in the sector.

Tim Pallas will retain his critical responsibilities as Treasurer and Minister for Industrial Relations. Reflecting his ongoing work to drive productivity and growth to build a better future for Victorians, he will take on an expanded role as Minister for Economic Growth.

Sonya Kilkenny will retain her responsibilities as Minister for Planning and also become Minister for the Suburbs as she continues to drive a package of planning reforms from Victoria’s Housing Statement – clearing the backlog of approvals, making sure good decisions are made faster and guiding the way our suburbs grow.

Harriet Shing will become Minister for Housing, overseeing our nation-leading Big Housing Build as well as Australia’s biggest urban renewal project across Melbourne’s high-rise public housing estates – delivering 10 per cent more social homes as a result. She will also retain the Water and Equality portfolios.

Colin Brooks will continue to play a significant role in the implementation of the Housing Statement, becoming Minister for Development Victoria and Minister for Precincts – leading work to ensure Victorians can afford to live in high-quality homes in thriving precincts, close to where they work. He will also become Minister for Creative Industries ensuring we keep our title as Australia’s cultural capital.

Reflecting a major new policy priority, Lizzie Blandthorn will become Minister for Children, bringing together the work across government that supports children and families. This includes the Labor Government’s Best Start, Best Life early childhood education reforms as well as continuing to drive improvements to our child protection system – providing a whole of government focus on child development and wellbeing.

She will also become Minister for Disability, and maintain her responsibilities as Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council.

Supporting the Labor Government’s strong economic policy focus, Natalie Hutchins will lead the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions as Minister for Jobs and Industry.

As Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, she will also take the lead as we work towards Treaty negotiations with the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria and the Government’s continuing engagement with the Yoorrook Justice Commission. She remains Minister for Women.

Ingrid Stitt will become Minister for Mental Health, continuing the Labor Government’s landmark reforms to build our mental health system from the ground up.

She will also become Minister for Ageing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs, with a renewed focus on supporting and engaging with Victoria’s culturally diverse communities as the Multicultural Affairs portfolio moves into the centre of government in the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Danny Pearson will become Minister for Transport Infrastructure and Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, delivering the state-shaping transport projects that will connect Victorians for generations to come. He will retain his responsibilities as Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Worksafe and the TAC.

Continuing her crucial work to ensure every Victorian can get the healthcare they need, close to home, Mary-Anne Thomas will add the Ambulance Services portfolio to her responsibilities as Minister for Health and Minister for Health Infrastructure. She will continue to serve as Leader of the House.

Gabrielle Williams will lead the Department of Government Services as Minister for Government Services. She will also become Minister for Consumer Affairs where she will oversee the Government’s rental reform agenda, and Minister for Public and Active Transport, in recognition that walking and cycling are key to liveability in our growing suburbs.

Steve Dimopoulos will become Minister for the Environment and Minister for Outdoor Recreation. He will retain his role as Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events – continuing his work to strengthen our visitor economy and retain our title of events capital of Australia.

Gayle Tierney will become Minister for Skills and TAFE, powering forward with her work to ensure Victoria has the pipeline of workers it needs across in-demand industries – like construction and energy. She will also become Minister for Regional Development, bringing her extensive experience as a regional MP to supporting rural and regional communities.

Ros Spence will become Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Carers and Volunteers, as well as retaining her responsibilities as Minister for Community Sport – ensuring local communities and grassroots organisations continue to have a strong advocate in Cabinet.

Member for Eltham Vicki Ward will join Cabinet, becoming Minister for Prevention of Family Violence and Minister for Employment.

Lily D’Ambrosio will continue to oversee Victoria’s energy transition as Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources and Minister for the State Electricity Commission.

Stability in the Justice portfolios has been prioritised with Attorney General and Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council Jaclyn Symes, Minister for Police Anthony Carbines and Minister for Corrections Enver Erdogan remaining in all of their portfolios.

Melissa Horne continues her focus on driving down the road toll as Minister for Roads and Road Safety, working with our logistics industry as Minister for Ports and Freight, overseeing councils as Minister for Local Government and tackling the next phase of regulatory reform work as Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation.

Natalie Suleyman remains Minister for Veterans, Minister for Youth and Minister for Small Business, continuing her work to drive economic opportunities across the portfolios.

Steve McGhie remains the Cabinet Secretary.

The ministry will be sworn in today, and be supported in their work by a number of Machinery of Government changes, effective from early 2024.

FIRST ALLAN MINISTRY | October 2023

Jacinta Allan

Premier [CM]

Ben Carroll

Deputy Premier

Minister for Education [CM]

Minister for Medical Research

Jaclyn Symes

Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council

Attorney-General [CM]

Minister for Emergency Services

Tim Pallas

Treasurer [CM]

Minister for Industrial Relations

Minister for Economic Growth

Lizzie Blandthorn

Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council

Minister for Children [CM]

Minister for Disability

Colin Brooks

Minister for Development Victoria

Minister for Precincts

Minister for Creative Industries

Anthony Carbines

Minister for Police

Minister for Crime Prevention

Minister for Racing

Lily D’Ambrosio

Minister for Climate Action [CM]

Minister for Energy and Resources

Minister for the State Electricity Commission

Steve Dimopoulos

Minister for Environment

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events

Minister for Outdoor Recreation

Enver Erdogan

Minister for Corrections

Minister for Youth Justice

Minister for Victim Support

Melissa Horne

Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation

Minister for Local Government

Minister for Ports and Freight

Minister for Roads and Road Safety

Natalie Hutchins

Minister for Jobs and Industry [CM]

Minister for Treaty and First Peoples

Minister for Women

Sonya Kilkenny

Minister for Planning

Minister for the Suburbs

Danny Pearson

Minister for Transport Infrastructure [CM]

Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop

Assistant Treasurer

Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC

Harriet Shing

Minister for Housing

Minister for Water

Minister for Equality

Ros Spence

Minister for Agriculture

Minister for Community Sport

Minister for Carers and Volunteers

Ingrid Stitt

Minister for Mental Health

Minister for Ageing

Minister for Multicultural Affairs

Natalie Suleyman

Minister for Veterans

Minister for Small Business

Minister for Youth

Mary-Anne Thomas

Leader of the House

Minister for Health [CM]

Minister for Health Infrastructure

Minister for Ambulance Services

Gayle Tierney

Minister for Skills and TAFE

Minister for Regional Development

Vicki Ward

Minister for Prevention of Family Violence

Minister for Employment

Gabrielle Williams

Minister for Government Services [CM]

Minister for Consumer Affairs

Minister for Public and Active Transport

Steve McGhie

Cabinet Secretary

Parliamentary Secretaries

Nick Staikos

Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier

Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs

Josh Bull

Parliamentary Secretary for Level Crossing Removals

Parliamentary Secretary for Transport

Darren Cheeseman

Parliamentary Secretary for Education

Christine Couzens

Parliamentary Secretary for First Peoples

Paul Edbrooke

Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer

Bronwyn Halfpenny

Parliamentary Secretary for Jobs

Katie Hall

Parliamentary Secretary for Housing

Parliamentary Secretary for Creative Industries

Nathan Lambert

Parliamentary Secretary for Children

Tim Richardson

Parliamentary Secretary for Health Infrastructure

Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

Michaela Settle

Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development

Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture

Nina Taylor

Parliamentary Secretary for Justice

Kat Theophanous

Parliamentary Secretary for Women’s Health

Paul Hamer

Parliamentary Secretary for Economic Development

Sheena Watt

Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Action

Iwan Walters

Parliamentary Secretary for Disability