Premier Jacinta Allan has launched an early re-election pitch built around “new solutions” rather than relying on her government’s long record in office, as Labor eyes a historic fourth term at this year’s state election.
Speaking to caucus colleagues on Monday, Allan argued that the pressures of modern family life meant Victorians were more reliant on public systems around them to stay afloat.
“Our purpose, as a Labor government, is delivering new solutions to these challenges,” Allan said.
“To make systems catch up to the complex reality of modern family life, where hopes are big, responsibilities are many, and time and money are tight.”
The Premier also unveiled a series campaign talking points she will use in the lead-up to polling day on November 28, placing a heavy emphasis on fresh policies and defying the traditional logic of incumbent governments campaigning on their records of delivery.
“It’s difficult, when the gains we’ve made as a society to make life a little bit easier – like working from home – are constantly under attack,” Allan said, in the address, on the eve of Parliament’s return.
In total, Allan used the term “new solutions” seven times in Monday’s speech, and flagged policies could come as early as “this week, this budget, this year”.
Labor has already vowed to pass laws giving Victorians the right to work from home two days a week for professions where this is possible, despite criticism that industrial relations powers sit largely with the Commonwealth.
Mums with sick kids were finding it difficult to juggle work, school and doctor’s appointments, the Premier said, and young families were struggling to buy a home of their own.
“These are some of the new challenges that families are facing.”
Allan enters the election year facing a relatively new opponent in Opposition Leader Jess Wilson, a first term MP who was elevated to the top job after the Liberals cycled through three leaders in less than 12 months.
Allan accused the Coalition of having cuts “in their bones” and criticised Wilson’s plan to speak at the Across Victoria Alliance event in Horsham this weekend, where One Nation recruit Barnaby Joyce will also appear.
“The Liberal National One Nation circus will push her further away from families… and further towards the extremes,” she said.
Hinting at her election campaign messaging, Allan said her team’s priorities were “better access to health and education, a safer community and real help with the cost-of-living to save families time and money”.
Her speech kicked off a one-day conference for Labor MPs where they will discuss strategies for the coming year. Labor won 56 of 88 lower house seats in the 2022 election, but two of those MPs have since moved to the crossbench.
In November, Labor will seek a fourth term in office, something the party is yet to accomplish in Victoria.
The Premier said youth crime was hurting families but described her government’s decision to overhaul youth sentencing as a “massive decision”.
Under these policies, known as adult time for violent crime, teenagers as young as 14 charged with violent offences including carjacking and home invasions will be dealt with by adult courts and potentially face lengthier sentences than they would in the Children’s Court.
While the changes have been condemned by social justice groups, Allan said it was the right decision.
She also flagged health and education would be on her election-year agenda, speaking about her personal experiences with endometriosis and the challenge of caring for a “profoundly sick child”.
Health and education are typically seen as strengths for Labor, however Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has sought to challenge this by making health one of the four key pillars of her push to return the Coalition to power.
Wilson’s other priorities have been budget repair, homeownership and tackling crime.
Appearing on Nova FM last week, Wilson was asked if the Coalition was ready to govern after years of Liberal infighting at a state level.
“ [I] Absolutely understand that when people look at us as the alternative government, they need to trust that we can govern, and I’m going to spend the next 10 months earning that trust and demonstrating that not only are we ready to govern, but we have the plan to govern,” she said.
Liberal MPs met for a party conference last week in San Remo, where David Southwick was returned to the position of deputy Liberal leader after winning a vote, 23-6 against Chris Crewther.
The major parties enter the election year in a tight battle with the Coalition’s primary vote rising towards the end of 2025. The Coalition needs to win an extra 16 seats to form government.
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