Ben Carroll: The ambitious deputy set to become Victoria’s next premier

Ben Carroll, Victoria’s deputy premier and a 14-year veteran of state parliament, is on track to become the state’s next premier after Jacinta Allan announced her resignation on Tuesday morning. Carroll, 51, emerged as the only contender for the Labor leadership, with Allan offering him her “unqualified support.” The transition comes just four months before a state election, thrusting a relatively little-known figure from Labor’s right faction into the spotlight.

A long-held ambition

Carroll’s political journey began in 1996 when he visited Canberra with then-federal MP Simon Crean and shook hands with US President Bill Clinton. He joined the Niddrie Labor branch that same year. After working in insurance and for Senator Stephen Conroy, he won the seat of Niddrie in a 2012 byelection. Over the years, he held 14 portfolios including industry, roads, and youth justice. But his ambition became clear in 2023, when he challenged the leadership succession plan set by then-premier Daniel Andrews.

From Kmart to cabinet

Carroll grew up in Airport West, where he still lives with his wife Fiona and daughter Madeliene. His first job was at Kmart, where he joined the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA), his first taste of unionism. After university, he worked in insurance before moving into politics. His early career in the Bracks government and later as an adviser to Senator Stephen Conroy gave him a strong grounding in policy and party mechanics.

The 2023 standoff that reshaped the cabinet

When Andrews resigned in 2023, he intended deputy Jacinta Allan to become premier and treasurer Tim Pallas as deputy. But Carroll, then a junior minister, refused to fall in line. He threatened to challenge Allan for the leadership unless he was made deputy. The ensuing caucus meeting turned into a marathon debate, reportedly provoking an expletive-laden outburst from Andrews. Carroll got his way and became deputy premier. In the reshuffle, Allan gave him the education portfolio but notably excluded him from the expenditure review committee, signaling lingering mistrust.

Education achievements and controversies

As education minister, Carroll oversaw Victoria’s best-ever NAPLAN results, ranking first or second in 18 out of 20 categories in 2025, with the highest proportion of students performing at “strong” or above. He also introduced mandatory phonics classes in schools, a method praised by some teachers but divisive among academics and the powerful Australian Education Union. However, his tenure also faced challenges, including controversial decisions that drew criticism.

Path to the premiership

Carroll’s rise to the top job is a remarkable turnaround from 2023, when he was seen as a long shot. Now, he commands the caucus support to lead Labor into the next election. His background in the SDA union and his roots in Melbourne’s western suburbs position him as a candidate attuned to working-class concerns. Yet questions remain about his ability to unite a party still recovering from internal divisions and to win over voters skeptical after years of Labor governance.

With Allan’s resignation, Carroll will inherit a government facing a tough election campaign. He has promised to continue the party’s agenda while putting his own stamp on leadership. The next few months will test whether the man who always wanted to rise can hold onto power.