Live: Deputy arrives to challenge for Victorian leadership as ally 'not sure' if Allan will run

Premier Jacinta Allan is facing a challenge for leadership of the Victorian Labor Party from her deputy Ben Carroll.MPs are meeting at parliament for a vote this morning.The ABC understands Ms Allan's supporters expect her to lose the spill motion.Follow our live coverage.Tue 28 Jul 2026 at 9:00amTue 28 Jul 2026 at 9:00amIntense media interest in today's voteJust to give you an idea of what Labor MPs are facing when they arrive at state parliament this morning, here's Minister for Women Mary-Anne Thomas facing the media scrum.Mary-Anne Thomas faces questions on her way into parliament. (ABC News)Not surpirsingly, most MPs have been reluctant to say too much before this morning's vote, but not for want of opportunity.Tue 28 Jul 2026 at 8:50amTue 28 Jul 2026 at 8:50amPremier might not contest challenge, minister tells ABCOne minister backing Jacinta Allan has told the ABC's Raf Epstein that they're "not sure" the Premier will put her name forward as leader.Yesterday, Ms Allan wrote a letter to the Labor Party's state secretary to indicate she would fight any leadership challenge.In the letter, Ms Allan said she intended to run as a candidate for the party's leadership "in the event that an election is required".If she contests, it would force the party to put a ballot out to the entire membership over four weeks.Given Labor is in government, with a state election just four months away, this is widely viewed as a "nightmare scenario".Tue 28 Jul 2026 at 8:42amTue 28 Jul 2026 at 8:42amBen's big day as he makes leadership moveBen Carroll didn't say much when he arrived this morning, but had a pretty busy day yesterday shoring up support with Labor colleagues.He looked fairly relaxed as he exited his vehicle and passed through the media scrum on his way into state parliament.Ben Carroll arrives at state parliament ahead of today's caucus meeting. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)After previously pledging support for Ms Allan, he announced he had changed his position.Ben Carroll announced yesterday he would stand as a candidate in any leadership contest. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)He's been described as a reluctant leadership contender but has been encouraged by fellow MPs to stand.Tue 28 Jul 2026 at 8:30amTue 28 Jul 2026 at 8:30amLiberal MP says change is neededSome MPs and ministers are choosing not to answer questions from waiting journalists. Liberal MP Georgie Crozier has weighed in on her arrival at parliament.Georgie Crozier says a new Labor leader won't change much. (ABC News)She says a change in the Labor Party's leadership won't change much for the state of Victoria. "What Victorians want is, they want this government gone," she said."We desperately need change. It’s not a change of premiers, it's a change of government." Tue 28 Jul 2026 at 8:27amTue 28 Jul 2026 at 8:27amBen Carroll arrives at state parliamentThe only Labor MP to raise their hand so far to challenge Ms Allan, Ben Carroll, has arrived for this morning's caucus meeting.It's set to be a big day for Mr Carroll and he wasn't keen to do too much talking this early in proceedings."I will have more to say later but right now my focus is on talking to my colleagues and I will have more to say later, but they're my focus," he said.Ben Carroll faces a barrage of questions at state parliament. (ABC News)Yesterday, Mr Carroll said Jacinta Allan had lost the support of caucus.Tue 28 Jul 2026 at 8:24amTue 28 Jul 2026 at 8:24amRecently promoted minister avoids questionsRecently promoted minister Luba Grigorovitch was not keen to face questions as she entered state parliament this morning.She was reported to have been among the delegation that told the premier yesterday that she no longer had their support.Luba Grigorovitch did not answer questions as she arrived at state parliament. (ABC News)Ms Grigovitch, who is an ally of controversial union boss John Setka, has only been a minister since April after being promoted by Jacinta Allan."The matter is before caucus so I won't be commenting on party matters," she said as she walked into the parliament building.Tue 28 Jul 2026 at 8:21amTue 28 Jul 2026 at 8:21amMinister 'looking forward' to caucusWhile walking into Parliament this morning, Labor’s Environment Minister Enver Erdogan said there needed to be a Royal Commission into the government.He didn't directly say who he was supporting but said: "I'm looking forward to caucus today.""I think we have a strong leadership team but obviously there is a case for change," he said."Some of these issues have been aired publicly … we need stronger action on crime and corruption in this state."Enver Erdogan arriving at Parliament. (ABC News )Tue 28 Jul 2026 at 8:12amTue 28 Jul 2026 at 8:12amHow did we get here?Yesterday, Deputy Premier Ben Carroll confirmed he would put his hand up to become Labor leader after a delegation of party ministers and MPs met with Premier Jacinta Allan in the morning and urged her to step down.Ms Allan had already declared that she would fight any leadership challenge in a letter to the Labor Party's state secretary that same morning. In a post on social media platform X, Mr Carroll said he was asked by a group of his colleagues to nominate for the leadership position."It is clear that the Premier has lost the majority of our Caucus," Mr Carroll said in the post."I have visited the Premier to inform her that I will be nominating for the leadership of the Labor Party."This decision is not easy, but the stakes at the upcoming election are simply too high."Tue 28 Jul 2026 at 8:03amTue 28 Jul 2026 at 8:03amMinister pledges support for Ms AllanVictoria's Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny was an early arrival at state parliament this morning.She didn't say much to waiting reporters, but said she backed the premier."I'm a minister in this government and the premier has my support," she said.Sonya Kilkenny faced questions as she arrived at state parliament. (ABC News)Tue 28 Jul 2026 at 7:55amTue 28 Jul 2026 at 7:55amPremier expected to lose spill motionWe're hearing this morning that Jacinta Allan's supporters in the Labor party room expect her to lose this morning's spill motion.Ms Allan has already said she will contest a leadership ballot if the spill goes ahead.That would force the party to put the ballot out to the entire membership over four weeks.In the meantime, Labor MPs would elect an interim leader, who cannot be a candidate in the ballot.Tue 28 Jul 2026 at 7:55amTue 28 Jul 2026 at 7:55amWelcome to our live coverageThank you for joining our blog.Premier Jacinta Allan will face a leadership spill at a meeting of Victoria's Labor MPs in Melbourne this morning.The ABC understands her supporters expect her to lose the spill motion.Stay with us throughout the day for live updates.