Breaking: Former Victorian premier Jacinta Allan quitting politics

Former Victorian premier Jacinta Allan quitting politics at the November electionPosted Fri 14 Aug 2026 at 11:10amFri 14 Aug 2026 at 11:10am, updated Fri 14 Aug 2026 at 11:32amFri 14 Aug 2026 at 11:32amJacinta Allan will not contest the November state election. (ABC News: Anna McGuinness)Former Victorian premier Jacinta Allan has announced she's leaving politics, after stepping down from the Labor leadership just over a fortnight ago.The member for Bendigo East called a press conference in her central Victorian seat on Friday morning to say she would not be contesting the November election.Ms Allan has spent half her life in Victoria's parliament after first being elected in 1999, on the day before her 26th birthday.Jacinta Allan's parents celebrate with her on the night she was elected to parliament. (X: Jacinta Allan)She was Victoria's youngest-ever woman MP and ascended to the ministry when she was just 29. "I am proud to say I didn't waste a day," Ms Allan said. "With each day, I lived the values outlined in my first speech to parliament — quality investments in public health and education, a strong union movement, respect for other people and the role of the community in decision making."Fight for decent jobs with decent wages is what must sit at the centre of what Labor governments deliver."Ms Allan spoke proudly about being approached by a Bendigo high school student not long after being first elected who asked for her business card."[She] looked at it, looked at me and declared, 'Well if you can do it, so can I.'""I've shown young boys and girls that you can live in Bendigo and run the state; that their premier is a person just like them or their mum, and that being a member of parliament or premier is not out of reach because you don't live in Melbourne or you don't go to a particular school."Ben Carroll was deputy premier to Jacinta Allan before taking the state's top job. (AAP: Joel Carrett)She became premier in September 2023, when her predecessor Daniel Andrews quit politics.On July 27, she stood down as Labor leader after losing the confidence of the majority of her party.Her deputy, Ben Carroll, became the premier.Premier Ben Carroll paid tribute to his predecessor on ABC radio this morning, saying Jacinta Allan had transformed Bendigo. (ABC News: Laura Mayers)Mr Carroll this morning paid tribute to Ms Allan during an interview with ABC regional radio."She has served the Bendigo and Victorian community for 27 years," he told Statewide Mornings."She's transformed Bendigo for the better … I wish her every success in the future."