Inside the Labor Party meeting where Victoria's new premier was elected

The French-polished cedar doors of the Labor caucus room are thick, but not thick enough to stifle the chaos behind them on Tuesday.Having calmly announced her resignation as premier earlier that morning, Jacinta Allan was now yelling.Her ally Steve Dimopoulos was making plenty of noise too.And the journalists and camera operators huddled outside, jostling for prime position, were within earshot.Almost two hours after they walked in, about 70 Labor MPs spilled out into the halls of parliament with Ben Carroll their new leader.Factional warfare broke out once doors closed on the Labor Party caucus on Tuesday. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)In the haggling, they had to cast their vote to avoid a drawn-out contest three times — once "on the voices" and then twice by a show of hands after failing to tally the numbers correctly."They couldn't figure out how many people had voted for it," an MP said to explain the yelling."The process was a shambles."It was a commonly-used descriptor for the day.The leadership challenge that 'destroyed' Socialist LeftColleagues sympathetic to the now departed premier said Ms Allan raised her voice only to maintain some order in the farce, while others were interjecting and speaking over one another to grumble about the process.Many had thought Mr Carroll's leadership was a fait accompli, having held the majority support of the room after Ms Allan had publicly declared that he would receive her full support should he emerge as premier.Instead, she added her signature to the nomination of her loyalist, Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny, setting up a challenge that threatened to drag a contest out for more than a month and destroy any lingering possibility of a fourth term of a Labor government.Sonya Kilkenny announced her intention to contest the leadership vacated by Jacinta Allan. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)It was a move most of Ms Allan's own Socialist Left (SL) faction had no idea was afoot, after their own "very, very, very tense" and even venomous meeting moments.The Socialist Left has for years enjoyed dominance in Labor's factions — blocs within the Labor Party of MPs and powerbrokers aligned on policy and other interests. It was home to former premier Daniel Andrews.But elevating Mr Carroll — a candidate from the Right — at the expense of Ms Allan has left it in tatters."This has destroyed the Socialist Left," one of its MPs said."SL is utterly imploding."MPs had been feeding out updates to the collection of reporters. Gabrielle Williams, also from the Left, will be deputy. Wait, Steve Dimopoulos is contesting too. Ms Williams has won the ballot but she's also been elected interim premier so the entire Labor membership can cast their votes on a leader.For a brief period on Tuesday Gabrielle Williams was interim premier, before the Labor caucus changed course again. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)Both deputy candidates were from the Left, and — while the Right voted as a bloc — the SL splintered.One person in the room even voted informally for the deputy. Someone put a 'tick' next to retiring upper house president Shaun Leane's name, in what was a presumed gag.Cracks in the Left had already opened under Ms Allan. She hoped to promote Tim Richardson to cabinet in her April cabinet reshuffle, but was overruled in a fractured vote that instead elevated Paul Hamer.Mr Richardson is now expected to progress to cabinet in Ms Allan's absence.Jacinta Allan talks to reporters. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)Several Labor sources told the ABC that, in order to end a protracted leadership fight, Ms Kilkenny withdrew her candidacy with four conditions.She would keep her portfolios, Mr Richardson would enter cabinet, there would be no bloodletting, and Mr Carroll's leadership would be unanimously supported.The move was always viewed as a proxy means of "blowing the joint up" for Ms Allan on her way out, anyway, or to shore up cabinet positions.Ms Kilkenny withdrew her candidacy at 11.55am, almost two hours after entering and just five minutes before parliament was due to begin for the week.Sonya Kilkenny withdrew her challenge after receiving reassurances about her future in the cabinet. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)Labor's new leader gets to work immediatelyNew premier Ben Carroll immediately announced a royal commission into alleged corruption in the construction sector — something Ms Allan had long refused — and asked his department secretary to begin work on "exhaustive" terms of reference.The promised strengthening of the anti-corruption watchdog will also happen this term, he said, and stronger law and order reforms will come.Mr Carroll has previously said he believed police stations, some of which have closed to focus resources on the front line, should be open all hours.He even had a cup of tea with Chief Commissioner Mike Bush on his first night on the job.Ben Carroll immediately announced a royal commission into the construction sector after being elected leader. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)By Wednesday, legislation was introduced to parliament to establish workplace protection orders to stop abuse and violence directed at retail and hospitality staff.Unions had been frustrated by Ms Allan's pace in pursuing this reform, though she was expected to bring the legislation before the November 28 election, and further consultation is still required."We have wanted it faster than this, but we're very pleased that the new premier is making it a priority matter in his first two days," SDA state secretary Michael Donovan told reporters.Even Ms Allan's prized Suburban Rail Loop is now in doubt, though Mr Carroll on Wednesday said he would not be cancelling any contracts.He has always barracked for the delayed Airport Rail."These are matters for cabinet. Everyone knows there's not a stronger supporter for Airport Rail … than me," Mr Carroll said.A cast of ministers and MPs arriving at parliament on Wednesday trumpeted the leadership change as a "new start".An "exciting opportunity for our new Labor government", Minister for Children and Disability Lizzie Blandthorn said.Environment Minister Enver Erdogan called it a "new chapter".Environment Minister Enver Erdogan was all smiles after Tuesday's caucus meeting. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)Mr Carroll was moving on from Ms Allan's approach, backbencher Dylan Waight explained."They're clearly different people, and they'll be different leaders. But I think Ben will be an amazing leader," he said.As Mr Carroll got started on changing course and caucus worked on bandaging up fresh wounds, Ms Allan was seen out by supporting staff and MPs.They gathered at a Labor favourite — the Union Club Hotel in Fitzroy — singing "solidarity forever".