The position became vacant after outgoing deputy premier James Merlino resigned on Friday,five months ahead of the November state election.
The Victorian Labor caucus met to confirm the make-up of its cabinet afterthe resignation of Merlino and three other high-profile MPs:Health Minister Martin Foley,Police Minister Lisa Neville and Industry,Tourism and Sports Minister Martin Pakula.
Outgoing tourism,sport and major events minister Martin Pakula (left) leaves Saturday’s caucus meeting.Credit:Paul Jeffers
Speaker Colin Brooks will also move into the cabinet. The speaker’s chair will be taken by Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards and St Albans MP Natalie Suleyman will be deputy speaker.
Other ministerial vacancies will be filled byLizzie Blandthorn,Steve Dimopoulos,Sonya Kilkenny and Harriet Shing.
Andrews said he would ring the new ministers to tell them which portfolios they had received. He said the new cabinet would be announced later on Saturday or Sunday and sworn in on Monday.
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The premier said he had not discussed a handover with Allan. “Not at all,” he said.
Andrews denied his socialist left faction now had too much influence over the government given Allan also comes from the same grouping. He said there hadn’t always been a “balance” from the left and right in the leadership teams of previous Labor governments.
“My judgement is that the best person should get the job,” he said.
Andrews said the election in November would be close and he wasn’t taking Labor’s re-election for granted,despite being ahead in the polls.
“The state election will be close,they always are. It’s a handful of votes in a handful of seats. We will put forward a positive and optimistic plan.”
If Labor wins,Andrews said he will serve a full term.
“I will be here to get the job done. I didn’t come back from a very serious injury so I could leave. I came back to do the work.”
Ahead of the meeting,Pakula threw his support behind Allan,saying she would be an “amazing” deputy premier.
“She’s the longest serving Labor minister in history and she’ll make a great deputy premier if that’s what caucus decides,” he said.
“I would expect she’ll be unanimously supported.”
Outgoing deputy premier James Merlino ahead of Saturday’s caucus meeting.Credit:Paul Jeffers
Pakula rejected suggestions it was too close to an election for a reshuffle,saying incoming ministers would have the winter break and remaining sitting weeks to deal with their portfolios.
Asked if the factions had sorted the portfolio carve up,Merlino said the decisions would be made in the caucus room.
Merlino said he would play a strategic role during the election,working on strategy and helping candidates in their local campaigns.
“I’ve got enough fuel in the tank to get to the election. It’s just not beyond that,” he said.
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