She may not be a dictator but Jacinta Allan’s approach carries risks

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We are now 38 days into the Allan government, and a picture is emerging of the kind of leader the new premier wants to be.

In subtle ways, Jacinta Allan has moved away from the centralised command-and-control model that characterised Daniel Andrews’ leadership. There will be significant temptation to go back to old habits during this journey.

Jacinta Allan promised to bring her own style to the role of Victorian premier and has so far been true to her word.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui

Under Andrews, ministers found themselves frequently overruled by the Premier’s Private Office, and MPs would be kept in the dark on announcements until 20 minutes before a decision went public. Even minor requests from rural newspapers sometimes had to be signed off by people as senior as the chiefs of staff.

Plenty of people grumbled about these controls, which were designed to keep the government on message. Andrews’ conservative critics used this to justify the moniker Dictator Dan. But internally, it was hard to argue against this system after Labor was re-elected with a massive lower house majority in 2018 and again in 2022.

When she took on the top job, Allan promised she would bring a “very different style” from her predecessor. She said her collegiate approach would be suited to tackling the complex issues Victoria was facing, such as housing and the cost of living. So far, Allan has been true to her word.

Cabinet meetings are more consultative, insiders say. Ministers who rarely spent time in the limelight are appearing in the media more often and staff and MPs say there is a genuine attempt to wind back controls from the Premier’s Private Office.

Observers will have noticed that press conferences are mercifully shorter, and the premier is no longer expected to answer every policy question when the responsible minister is a metre away. Allan has also been engaging with the backbench, including making it to as many events with her colleagues as possible.

All of this presents as an opportunity to breathe new life into a third-term government. However, there are risks.

Take the announcement this week that new legislation would prevent Frankston serial killer Paul Denyer from seeking parole, a departure from the stance outlined under Andrews that the state was reluctant to introduce one-person laws.

After the friends and family of victims were told about the move, the Labor caucus was briefed. This was no doubt welcomed by MPs who want to be kept in the loop, but the story subsequently broke in the media before an official announcement could be made. The state opposition was out discussing the decision two hours before the government had even revealed the laws.

Best foot forward.Credit: Matt Davidson

Political strategists would argue this is not the best way to win over voters. But something else happened that day when the responsible ministers were sent out by themselves.

Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes spoke powerfully about being influenced by her meeting with the families of Denyer’s victims, sitting on their couches and hearing about their trauma. It was a good example of a minister selling a message without needing the premier to step in. Although the decision was described as a backflip, it came through as a compassionate one.

Internally, some staff members have expressed frustrations about the change in approach, saying that the government’s responses aren’t as agile or co-ordinated as they used to be.

There are definitely moments that appear chaotic from the outside. A letter from Tim Pallas offering to waive payroll tax fees for struggling doctors was oddly handled and arguably didn’t need to be sent at all because it muddied the waters on the issue.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan holds her first cabinet meeting as leader.

Allan’s office is still a work in progress. Staff who have stayed on are still in the three-month period where they can accept their redundancy offers, so the team is not yet settled.

The real test will be when things go pear-shaped.

Andrews developed a brand around being front-and-centre when responding to a crisis or making a big policy announcement. His presence was a reassuring sign that the issue was being taken seriously, and he wasn’t afraid to add to ministers’ comments when the message wasn’t getting across.

This shielded cabinet ministers from embarrassing moments in their portfolios. The trade-off was control.

Allan’s leadership style could thrust more faces into the spotlight and force them to sink or swim, blooding some into better politicians but exposing underperformers. It has the potential to revitalise the team seeking re-election in 2026.

MPs are wary that the old command-and-control habits will resurface when these problems emerge, but Allan should be encouraged to resist temptation and stay the course. The benefits will outweigh the risks in the longer term.

Kieran Rooney is state political reporter for The Age.

Annika Smethurst is on leave.

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