Ben Carroll's first full day as Victoria's Premier began with a symbolic television signal failure in the basement of a Melbourne Kmart, a location he referenced as the starting point of his working career. Carroll, who has been a member of the state cabinet since 2017 and served as Deputy Premier under Jacinta Allan, declared his intention to forge a new path distinct from his predecessors.
Despite his claims of a fresh start, Carroll's long involvement in government has drawn attention. He announced on Tuesday a royal commission into Victoria's construction sector. This decision, alongside establishing a special prosecutor and enhancing the anti-corruption watchdog, comes at a time when the sector is deemed compromised. Critics point out that such measures were not prioritized during Carroll's tenure as the second-highest-ranking figure in the government.
The transition to leadership was marked by internal challenges. Jacinta Allan, the former Premier, reportedly did not step down willingly and subsequently supported Attorney General Sonya Kilkenny in a bid for leadership. Kilkenny's brief candidacy threatened to prolong the leadership contest, potentially destabilizing the government just months before an election. Ultimately, Carroll secured a decisive majority, leading to his unanimous election as Premier.
Carroll's administration faces the task of addressing the government's perceived shortcomings. The incoming Premier's strategy appears to involve acknowledging past issues and positioning Labor as the entity capable of investigating and rectifying them. This approach, while potentially controversial, is presented against the backdrop of a reportedly weak Liberal opposition and a fractured right-wing political landscape in Victoria.
The narrative of Carroll as an outsider seeking to fix a broken system is being scrutinized, given his extensive history within the government. His campaign's emphasis on his early career at Kmart is seen by some as an attempt to craft an image of reinvention, analogous to Anthony Albanese's narrative around public housing.
The political maneuverings surrounding Allan's departure and Kilkenny's challenge highlight the complexities of the recent leadership change. Kilkenny's eventual withdrawal paved the way for Carroll's uncontested ascension, presented by the party as a unified transition.
Ultimately, the success of Carroll's premiership may depend on whether voters accept the Labor party's argument that it can effectively address the issues it acknowledges having created, especially with an upcoming election.