Allan's Political Retirement
Jacinta Allan Concludes 27-Year Political Career, Retires From Victorian Parliament
Key Points
Allan announced at a Bendigo East press conference that she will not contest the 2026 state election, signaling her retirement after 27 years in parliament.
She was elected Bendigo East in 1999 at age 25, making her the seat's first Labor member and one of Victoria's youngest MPs.
Two weeks before the announcement, Allan was dumped as premier after a dramatic Labor leadership change, with her deputy Ben Carroll subsequently becoming premier.
The next election is expected to see a new Labor candidate for Bendigo East compete against Nationals candidate Andrew Lethlean.
Jacinta Allan has announced she will quit politics, ending a 27-year career in the Victorian Parliament. The New Daily reported that Allan confirmed she will not contest her Bendigo East seat at the upcoming November state election, just two weeks after being removed as premier.
Allan became premier in 2023 and was the first woman to represent Bendigo in any Australian parliament. Her exit settles weeks of speculation about her future after deputy Ben Carroll replaced her as Labor leader and premier.
Allan Ousted as Premier Before Announcing Retirement
Allan was dumped as Labor leader in a dramatic leadership change roughly two weeks before her retirement announcement. Her deputy, Ben Carroll, took over as Victorian premier. AFR reported that Allan was forced to resign as Labor leader after being ousted from the position, making her retirement the final chapter of a sudden political fall.
Allan made the announcement at a press conference in Bendigo East. She said she was proud of her 27 years in public life. The move ends any lingering questions about whether she might stay on as a backbencher after losing the top job.
From Youngest Female MP to Victorian Premier
Allan was first elected to the Victorian Parliament in 1999 at just 25 years old. Neoskosmos noted she was Victoria's youngest-ever female MP at the time. She was also the first Labor member ever elected for Bendigo East and the first woman to represent Bendigo in any Australian parliament.
Her rise took her from that historic 1999 win all the way to the premiership in 2023. That is a span of 24 years climbing through Labor ranks. Colleagues praised her transformative impact on Bendigo throughout that time.
Bendigo East Seat Now Opens for November Contest
With Allan stepping aside, Labor will need a new candidate for Bendigo East at the November election. Surf Coast Times reported that Nationals candidate Andrew Lethlean is already positioned to contest the seat. That sets up a competitive race for a seat Labor has held since 1999.
The seat has been held by just one MP for over two decades. Whoever Labor picks will need to defend it without the name recognition Allan built over 27 years. The November election shapes as a genuine test for Labor in Bendigo East.
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