Victoria's new Premier Ben Carroll, who was sworn into office on Tuesday, has highlighted his eight-year tenure as a teenager working at Kmart as foundational to his leadership philosophy. Carroll, 51, began his first job at the Airport West Kmart at age 15, stacking shelves and serving customers.
During his time at Kmart, Carroll also joined the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Union (SDA), a move that later aligned him with the Labor Party's Right faction. Former colleagues recall him as quiet, well-presented, and polite, but also serious and driven.
"I still remember the joy of receiving my first pay cheque," Carroll stated, reflecting on his time at Kmart. "It taught me, from a young age, the value of a dollar." He emphasized that this experience informs his understanding of public concern regarding government spending, vowing that his administration will treat every dollar responsibly to deliver maximum value to Victorians.
Carroll plans to focus on essential services and cost-of-living support for families. Born in 1975 and raised in Airport West, the same suburb he now represents as the Member for Niddrie, Carroll's background includes his mother Kay, a former school worker, and his father Greg, an electrician whose business failed during the early 1990s recession.
His political career began in his early twenties when he joined the Niddrie branch of the Labor Party. After graduating, his first significant political role was as a staffer for then-premier Steve Bracks. He also held positions in an insurance company's motor vehicles division, served as a legal officer with the Victorian Solicitor-General's Office, advised Senator Stephen Conroy on the National Broadband Network, and worked with former federal Labor leader Bill Shorten.
Carroll entered the Victorian Parliament in 2012 and steadily progressed within the Labor Party. Over the past decade, he has held senior portfolios including Industry and Employment, Public Transport, Roads, Education, Medical Research, and WorkSafe. In 2023, he was appointed deputy premier under Jacinta Allan. His previous bid for the premiership in 2023, following Daniel Andrews' resignation, saw him step aside for Allan after a factional agreement.
Carroll, who lives in Airport West with his wife Fiona, a lawyer, and their daughter Madeline, has previously advocated for a royal commission into the "Big Build" corruption scandal and has supported tougher bail laws. He is perceived as more business-friendly than his predecessor and has indicated a potential shift away from Allan's work-from-home policies.
Following his swearing-in, Carroll released a video stating that he agreed to lead the party because "the stakes at this election are too high." He warned of the potential for a Liberal-One Nation government that would cut essential services, asserting that only Labor could prevent this outcome and protect working people. He promised to usher in a new direction for the government on integrity, community safety, and the economy.