Bec Judd has launched a strong public criticism of Ben Carroll, Victoria's newly elected premier, accusing him of complicity in the state's perceived 'downfall.' The AFL personality and influencer stated on Instagram that Carroll, having served alongside former premiers Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan, is now "side by side with Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan and was complicit in the downfall of Victoria."
Judd's remarks, posted on Tuesday, were in response to news of the leadership change. She added, "Same s**t. Different face." This sentiment was echoed by Melbourne socialite Zana Pali, a fellow critic of the Victorian Labor government, who stated, "They've changed the captain, but it's still the same Labor ship, with the same crew, sailing towards the same iceberg."
This is not the first time Judd and Pali have voiced their opposition to the Victorian Labor government's leadership. In September 2024, Judd criticized then-premier Jacinta Allan regarding the state's crime rates following a home invasion incident. Earlier in February 2024, Judd had also commented on Victoria's rising debt, sharing a graph that compared the state's financial standing to the rest of Australia, concluding, "Victoria is cooked."
Judd's criticisms extend back to 2023, when she addressed concerns about rising crime, youth offending, and what she described as deteriorating living conditions in Melbourne. Pali has also been a vocal critic, declaring in September 2024 that Victoria had become "a laughing stock" and urging stronger government action on crime. In May 2024, she criticized the government's handling of anti-Israel protests in Melbourne, asserting that Victorians no longer felt safe.
Ben Carroll was elected Victoria's new premier by Labor MPs on Tuesday, following Jacinta Allan's decision to step aside. Allan had faced pressure to resign after a delegation of ministers and senior MPs informed her that she had lost the support of the majority of the Labor caucus. Allan announced her resignation on Tuesday, ending weeks of speculation about her political future.
Carroll's ascension was not without internal challenge. While initially expected to be unopposed, Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny launched a surprise leadership bid, which she later withdrew. Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams was briefly elected interim leader before being chosen as deputy leader.
Carroll, 51, now faces the challenge of leading the Labor party into a state election scheduled for November, with current polling indicating the party is trailing behind the Opposition. Carroll stated that the stakes in the upcoming election are high, warning against a potential Liberal–One Nation government that he claims would reduce essential services. A News Corp poll published prior to the leadership change showed the Opposition leading Labor on a two-party-preferred basis, 56 percent to 44 percent.