Jacinta Allan Explained

Jacinta Allan
Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
Honorific-Suffix:MP
Office1:49th Premier of Victoria
Termstart1:27 September 2023
Monarch1:Charles III
Governor1:Margaret Gardner
Deputy1:Ben Carroll
Predecessor1:Daniel Andrews
Office2:18th Leader of the Labor Party in Victoria
Term Start2:27 September 2023
Deputy2:Ben Carroll
Predecessor2:Daniel Andrews
Office3:29th Deputy Premier of Victoria
Premier3:Daniel Andrews
Term Start3:27 June 2022
Term End3:27 September 2023
Predecessor3:James Merlino
Successor3:Ben Carroll
Office4:Deputy Leader of the Labor Party in Victoria
Leader4:Daniel Andrews
Term Start4:25 June 2022
Term End4:27 September 2023
Predecessor4:James Merlino
Successor4:Ben Carroll
Office5:Leader of the House
Premier5:Daniel Andrews
Term Start5:4 December 2014
Term End5:27 June 2022
Predecessor5:Louise Asher
Office6:Minister for Transport and Infrastructure
Term Start6:4 December 2014
Term End6:2 October 2023
Premier6:Daniel Andrews
Successor6:Danny Pearson
Office7:Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop
Term Start7:22 June 2020
Term End7:2 October 2023
Premier7:Daniel Andrews
Predecessor7:Office established
Successor7:Danny Pearson
Office8:Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery
Term Start8:5 December 2022
Term End8:20 July 2023
Premier8:Daniel Andrews
Successor8:Office abolished
Constituency Am9:Bendigo East
Assembly9:Victorian Legislative
Term Start9:18 September 1999
Predecessor9:Michael John
Birth Date:1973 9, df=yes
Birth Place:Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
Party:Labor
Spouse:
    Children:2
    Alma Mater:La Trobe University, Bendigo
    Profession:Politician
    Signature:Jacinta Allen Signature.png
    Birth Name:Jacinta Marie Allan

    Jacinta Marie Allan (born 19 September 1973) is an Australian politician serving as the 49th and current premier of Victoria since 2023. She has been the leader of the Victorian branch of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) since 2023 and has been a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the district of Bendigo East since 1999. She previously served as the 29th deputy premier of Victoria from 2022 to 2023. Allan is the longest-serving female minister in Victorian state history and currently the most senior sitting member of the Assembly.

    Early life

    Allan was born on 19 September 1973 in Bendigo, Victoria.[1] A member of a prominent Bendigo political family, she is the granddaughter of William Allan who was the president of the Bendigo Trades Hall Council.[2]

    Allan was educated at St Joseph's Primary School in Quarry Hill and at Catholic College Bendigo. She completed the degree of Bachelor of Arts (Hons) at La Trobe University.[3] While at university she worked part-time as a grocery bagger at Coles.[4]

    Political career

    Early involvement

    Allan joined the ALP at the age of 19 and interned for federal MP Lindsay Tanner while at university.[5] She subsequently worked as a political staffer for state MPs Steve Gibbons and Neil O'Keefe, before her election to parliament.[6] In 1997, she was one of the leaders of a campaign to prevent a lap dancing bar from opening in Bendigo.[5]

    Allan was first elected at the 1999 state election at the age of 25, making her the youngest ever elected female parliamentarian in Victoria.[7] She defeated incumbent Liberal state government minister Michael John as part of a large swing to Labor in regional Victoria.[6]

    Bracks/Brumby governments (2002–2010)

    Allan entered the ministry after the 2002 election, serving as Minister for Education Services and Minister for Employment and Youth Affairs. She was the youngest minister in state history and the youngest Victorian government minister since Alfred Deakin in the 1880s.[4]

    After a cabinet reshuffle in 2006, Allan's responsibilities were altered slightly, losing Youth Affairs in exchange for Women's Affairs. She was promoted in August 2007, in a reshuffle sparked by the accession of John Brumby to the premiership.[8] In 2010, she became Minister for Industry and Trade. Allan was targeted by Right to Life organisations during her election campaign in 2010, having voted for abortion reform in parliament during 2008.[9]

    Opposition (2010–2014)

    After the defeat of the Brumby government in November 2010, Allan became manager of opposition business in the Legislative Assembly, as well as opposition spokeswoman for Roads, Regional and Rural Development and Bushfire Response. Since this time, Allan has also served as police and emergency services spokesperson.[10]

    In a reshuffle announced in December 2013, Allan became Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Regional Cities and Regional & Rural Development, in addition to her responsibilities as Manager of Opposition Business.[11]

    Andrews government (2014–2023)

    After the 2014 state election, Allan was appointed Minister for Public Transport and Minister for Employment in the First Andrews Ministry.[12]

    Following Labor's victory in the 2018 state election, Allan was appointed Minister for Transport and Infrastructure in the Second Andrews Ministry. The portfolio leads a large package of projects such as the Suburban Rail Loop and Metro Tunnel.

    During the Victorian Government's response to the COVID-19 health emergency, Allan became a member of the Crisis Council of Cabinet, serving as the Minister for the Coordination of Transport – COVID-19. In this role, she became responsible for leading all COVID-19 response activities across the transport portfolio.[13]

    Premier of Victoria (2023–present)

    See also: Allan government. Following the resignation of Daniel Andrews on 26 September 2023, a party caucus was held the following day. Allan was elected as Leader of the Labor Party and consequently the 49th Premier of Victoria unopposed after negotiations within party factions.[14] [15] She is the second woman, after Joan Kirner, to lead the state.[16]

    On 8 February 2024, Premier Allan delivered an apology to Victorians who experienced historical abuse and neglect as children in institutional care. [17]

    On 19 May, Premier Allan and the Australian prime minister were locked in a conference room after dozens of protesters attacked the venue they were in. Security and police found themselves outnumbered. The protesters were protesting about the war in Israel and Gaza. [18]

    Personal life

    Allan is married to Yorick Piper, a former ministerial advisor, with whom she has two children.[19]

    Notes and References

    1. News: Allan, Jacinta Marie (1973 -). The Australian Women's Register. 27 September 2023. 27 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230927053248/https://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE1293b.htm. live.
    2. Colin Cleary (1999), Bendigo Labor. The Maintenance of Traditions in a Regional City, Epsom, pp. 146–148, 227
    3. News: The Hon. Jacinta Allan. Parliament of Victoria. 27 September 2023. 5 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231105215454/https://new.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/jacinta-allan/. live.
    4. News: Jacinta Allan signals a new order in the house. The Age. 4 December 2002. 27 September 2023. 27 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230927053631/https://www.theage.com.au/national/jacinta-allan-signals-a-new-order-in-the-house-20021204-gduvmw.html. live.
    5. News: High hopes and the politics of certainty. The Age. 8 March 2003. 27 September 2023. 27 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230927054106/https://www.theage.com.au/national/high-hopes-and-the-politics-of-certainty-20030308-gdvca2.html. live.
    6. News: Daniel Andrews' chosen one: How Jacinta Allan became the heir apparent. The Age. 30 July 2022. Annika. Smethurst. 27 September 2023. 27 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230927054825/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/is-jacinta-allan-on-a-fast-track-to-become-victorian-premier-20220728-p5b586.html. live.
    7. Web site: The Premier of Victoria, Australia - Minister Biography . www.premier.vic.gov.au . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20050616072329/http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/ministers/list_item.asp?id=35 . 16 June 2005 . dead.
    8. Web site: Hon Jacinta Allan . Parliament of Victoria . 6 December 2014 . 7 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141207175334/http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/details/51-hon-jacinta-allan . live .
    9. Lyle Allan (2010). "Margaret Tighe. The most powerful woman in Victoria," in Tasmanian Times, 30 November. http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php?/weblog/article/margaret-tighe.-the-most-powerful-woman-in-victoria/
    10. Web site: Bendigo MP given new portfolio. Reymer. Martin. 6 February 2012. 7 February 2012. 7 February 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120207155923/http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/bendigo-mp-given-new-portfolio/2445477.aspx. live.
    11. Web site: 2013-07-26 . Jacinta Allan announces pregnancy . Bendigo Advertiser . en-AU . 2 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231002055153/https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/1664542/jacinta-allan-announces-pregnancy/ . live .
    12. News: New Victorian Premier sworn in, new ministerial team revealed. ABC News. 4 December 2014. 6 December 2014. 6 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141206075922/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-04/daniel-andrews-sworn-in-as-victorian-premier/5935934. live.
    13. Web site: Crisis Council Of Cabinet Set Up To Combat Coronavirus Premier of Victoria . www.premier.vic.gov.au . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200403073339/https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/crisis-council-of-cabinet-set-up-to-combat-coronavirus/ . 2020-04-03.
    14. News: Jacinta Allan fends off late challenge to become 49th premier of Victoria . 27 September 2023 . ABC News . 27 September 2023 . en-AU . 27 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230927050753/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-27/jacinta-allan-to-succeed-daniel-andrews-as-victorian-premier/102906268 . live .
    15. Web site: Jacina Allan to become premier of Victoria . Kolovos . Benita . Ore . Adeshola . . 27 September 2023 . 27 September 2023 . 27 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230927044156/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/27/new-premier-victoria-jacinta-allan-daniel-andrews-resignation-labor . live .
    16. Web site: Who is Jacinta Allan, Victoria's new premier and Daniel Andrews's successor?. ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 27 September 2023. 27 September 2023. 27 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230927063353/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-27/jacinta-allan-next-victorian-premier-daniel-andrews-successor/102903252. live.
    17. Web site: Parliamentary apology to care leavers Parliament of Victoria . 9 April 2024 . www.parliament.vic.gov.au . en . 9 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240409040630/https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/news/general-news/careleaversapology/ . live .
    18. News: Pro-Palestine protesters crash Labor state conference . 18 May 2024 .
    19. News: Kolovos . Benita . Victoria's new premier: who is Jacinta Allan and what can we expect from her leadership? . 27 September 2023 . . 27 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230927090040/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/27/new-victoria-premier-jacinta-allan-who-is-career-faction-labor-daniel-andrews-resignation . 27 September 2023 . live.