Ben Carroll starts his first full day as Victorian premier, after replacing Jacinta Allan as the new leader of the Victorian Labor Party.
The MP for Niddrie faces the challenge of leading Labor to the state election November.
Follow our coverage below.
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Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 8:43am
Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 8:43am
Technical issues from the premier's presser
The live camera feed appears to be struggling to get out of the Kmart basement where the premier is speaking.
Bear with us while wait for a better feed.
We need a sound and vision guy!
Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 8:41am
Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 8:41am
Ben Carroll takes a tour of Kmart
By Tim Callanan
After working at Kmart for eight years you'd think he already knows his way around pretty well, but the new premier is getting a guided tour of the store.
He's just told a couple of employees that he worked in menswear before finishing his time at Kmart in sound and vision.
Fascinating stuff.
Ben Carroll takes a tour of the Bourke Street Kmart. (ABC News)Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 8:33am
Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 8:33am
Premier arrives for press conference
By Tim Callanan
Ben Carroll is briefly meeting some employees at Kmart before the start of his press conference.
He's already said he has some "beautiful memories" from his eight years at Kmart.
Ben Carroll and Gabrielle Williams arrive for their press conference. (ABC News)Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 8:29am
Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 8:29am
A potential cabinet reshuffle
By Mikaela Ortolan
One of the first orders of business for Ben Carroll is to rejig his frontbench.
His own education portfolio will be up for grabs and he will need to pick a replacement for his predecessor, Jacinta Allan.
Several sources have told the ABC that Mordialloc MP Tim Richardson would enter cabinet, but other changes to the Allan ministry are yet to be revealed.
Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 8:25am
Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 8:25am
Some big jobs on the premier's agenda
By Tim Callanan
Ben Carroll won't have much time to waste getting stuck into his tasks as premier, with a state election looming in November.
He needs to set the terms of reference for the royal commission into the construction sector that he announced yesterday.
He also needs to pick his cabinet after replacing Jacinta Allan yesterday.
You can read all about the challenges he faces today here:
Key Event
Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 8:20am
Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 8:20am
New premier's first full day on the job
By Tim Callanan
After a whirlwind 24 hours, Victoria's new premier Ben Carroll is starting his first full day on the job with a press conference in Melbourne's CBD this morning.
He'll be joined by his new deputy, Gabrielle Williams, for an announcement at – wait for it – Kmart in Bourke Street.
In case you didn't know, Mr Carroll worked at Kmart at Airport West for eight years while he studied at high school and university.
He says this is where he first joined a union and "got a good understanding of the importance of unions in helping working people".
That's how he earned the nickname Kmart Keating among some Labor colleagues.
Let's see if the nickname sticks.
Key Event
Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 8:13am
Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 8:13am
Welcome to the blog
By Tim Callanan
Victoria's new premier Ben Carroll is starting his first full day as the state's leader after replacing Jacinta Allan yesterday.
Join us as we follow the events of the day as they unfold.
