I am sad to see my close friends and long-time colleagues – James Merlino, Martin Foley, Lisa Neville, Martin Pakula and Richard Wynne – retire from the Ministry and, at the end of the year, the Parliament.
Each of them has given many years of extraordinary service to our state, to our Government and to the labour movement. I am so grateful for the support, friendship and loyalty that each of them has shown me over the journey.
Good governments are always more than the sum of their parts and I’m proud to lead a strong team with formidable talent.
As one group of very experienced people move on, I know they will be replaced by equally capable and committed Ministers who will bring new ideas and new energy to our Cabinet.
I’m pleased to announce changes to Coordinating Ministers who will oversee each of the departments across government and ensure we continue our work to deliver for all Victorians.
- Treasurer Tim Pallas remains the Coordinating Minister for the Department of Treasury and Finance
- Jacinta Allan remains the Coordinating Minister for the Department of Transport
- Attorney General Jaclyn Symes remains the Coordinating Minister of the Department of Justice and Community Safety
- Ben Carroll will become the Coordinating Minister for the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions
- Lily D’Ambrosio will become the Coordinating Minister for the Department of Environment, Planning, Land and Water
- Natalie Hutchins will become the Coordinating Minister for the Department of Education and Training
- Danny Pearson will become the Coordinating Minister for the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
- Mary-Anne Thomas will become the Coordinating Minister for the Department of Health.
Like the Cabinet, this leadership group is now more than 50 per cent women. I know they will do an outstanding job – as a team and in each of their roles.
We have always been a government that gets things done. With a renewed team, we’ll keep putting forward a positive and optimistic plan for Victoria, and we won’t waste a day delivering on it.
The Parliamentary Labor Party will convene for a Caucus meeting tomorrow, Saturday 25 June, to make new appointments to the Cabinet.
Portfolio arrangements will be confirmed in due course and the new Ministry will be sworn in early next week.
Reviewed 24 June 2022