Jacinta Allan no stranger to community
The Member for Bendigo East was widely expected to succeed long-running premier Daniel Andrews
Jacinta Allan, formerly deputy premier, emerged as Victoria’s Premier-elect after the Victorian ALP caucus held a leadership meeting this afternoon.
The Member for Bendigo East was widely expected to succeed long-running premier Daniel Andrews when he announced on Tuesday he would be stepping down after nine years in the state’s top job.
At a media conference after the caucus meeting, Allan described becoming Premier as “a deep honour and privilege”.
Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll, who considered challenging for the top job, has been elected Deputy Premier.
On her first visit to Beth Weizmann Community Centre in May – a communal visit that many observers saw as a preparation for eventually taking on the role of Premier – Allan had remained tight-lipped about any leadership ambitions.
Prompted by The AJN on the day, she would only say, “I feel very blessed to have a job that I love doing, and to be working alongside the Premier and my ministerial and caucus colleagues … I’ve got the job that I want.”
And when The AJN had asked Andrews about Allan being his possible successor when the time came, his response had been, “That will be for others to judge. I can tell you she makes a fantastic Deputy Premier.”
During her Beth Weizmann visit, Allan had viewed the Lamm Library of Australia, its historical artefacts and samples of Write Your Story, its Jewish memoirs program. She chatted with Access Inc participants and was briefed on its programs.
She reviewed the $2 million-plus security upgrade implemented in 2020, of which her government was the principal funder.
Allan said at the time, “This is an important community centre and also a place where many people come each day for work, so it’s important to provide a safe and supportive work environment.”
Speaking after Allan was elected Premier, Zionism Victoria president Yossi Goldfarb noted, “Over the years, I’ve been privileged to work with Jacinta Allan and am fully confident that the intellect, passion and drive that I’ve witnessed firsthand will be a tremendous boon to Victoria.
“In recent months, Zionism Victoria has met with Jacinta on a number of occasions to discuss issues of concern to the community and found her wholly receptive and keen to learn more.”
On her Beth Weizmann visit in May, Goldfarb added, “She took a genuine interest in the work undertaken by all the communal organisations based on the site and particularly enjoyed the cup of coffee made by participants of Access Inc.
“We very much look forward to welcoming her again, this time as Premier, and continuing our conversations about issues of interest to the community including Victoria’s relationship with Israel.”
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