New Victorian Government Ministry
On Monday 27 June 2022, a new Victorian Government Ministry was sworn in by the Governor of Victoria.
The swearing in of the new Ministry comes as four long-serving Labor MP’s whom were Lead Minister’s (responsible for the Department) in the Andrews Government announced they would not recontest the next election and as such opted to stand aside from their ministerial responsibilities to allow a new generation to come forward.
The four Ministers who announced their retirement on 24 June 2022 include:
- The Hon. James Merlino MP – Deputy Premier, Minister for Education; Mental Health and Member for Monbulk.
- The Hon. Martin Foley MP – Minister for Health; Ambulance Services; Equality and Member for Albert Park.
- The Hon. Lisa Neville MP – Minister for Police; Water and Member for Bellarine.
- The Hon. Martin Pakula MP – Minister for Industry Support and Recovery; Trade; Business Precincts; Tourism, Sport and Major Events; Racing and Member for Keysborough.
The announcements on the 24 June 2022 come in addition to the retirement of Housing and Planning Minister Richard Wynne that was announced last year.
In the new Andrews Government Ministry, Member for Bendigo East, The Hon. Jacinta Allan MP, will serve as Deputy Premier and hold the portfolios of Minister for Transport Infrastructure; the Suburban Rail Loop; and Commonwealth Games Delivery. Allan becomes just the second woman to hold the position of Deputy Premier after former Labor Premier the late The Hon. Joan Kirner AC.
The new introductions to the Ministry include:
- The Hon. Lizzie Blandthorn MP – Minister for Planning and Leader of the House.
- The Hon. Colin Brooks MP – Minster for Child Protection and Family Services; and Disability, Ageing and Carers.
- The Hon. Steve Dimopoulos MP – Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events.
- The Hon. Sonya Kilkenny MP – Minister for Corrections; Youth Justice; Victim Support; and Fishing and Boating.
- The Hon. Harriet Shing MLC – Minister for Water; Regional Development; and Equality.
Member for Bendigo West, Maree Edwards, replaces Brooks as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
The new additions to the Ministry bring the number of women in the Victorian Cabinet to 14, which is more than any other Australian jurisdiction. Three of the four parliamentary leadership positions are also now held by women.
Andrews Ministry | June 2022
| Daniel Andrews | Premier |
| Jacinta Allan | Deputy Premier Minister for Transport Infrastructure Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery |
| Jaclyn Symes | Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council Attorney-General Minister for Emergency Services |
| Gayle Tierney | Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council Minister for Training and Skills Minister for Higher Education Minister for Agriculture |
| Tim Pallas | Treasurer Minister for Industrial Relations Minster for Economic Development Minister for Trade |
| Lizzie Blandthorn | Leader of the House Minister for Planning |
| Colin Brooks | Minister for Child Protection and Family Services Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers |
| Anthony Carbines | Minister for Police Minister for Crime Prevention Minister for Racing |
| Ben Carroll | Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Minister for Business Precincts Minister for Public Transport Minister for Roads and Road Safety |
| Lily D’Ambrosio | Minister for Energy Minister for Environment and Climate Action Minister for Solar Homes |
| Steve Dimopoulos | Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Minister for Creative Industries |
| Melissa Horne | Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation Minister for Ports and Freight Minister for Local Government Minister for Suburban Development |
| Natalie Hutchins | Minister for Education Minister for Women |
| Sonya Kilkenny | Minister for Corrections Minister for Youth Justice Minister for Victim Support Minister for Fishing and Boating |
| Shaun Leane | Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy Minister for Veterans |
| Danny Pearson | Minister for Housing Assistant Treasurer Minister for Government Services Minister for Regulatory Reform |
| Jaala Pulford | Minister for Employment Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy Minister for Resources Minister for Small Business |
| Harriet Shing | Minister for Water Minister for Regional Development Minister for Equality |
| Ros Spence | Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Minister for Multicultural Affairs Minister for Community Sport Minister for Youth |
| Ingrid Stitt | Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Minister for Workplace Safety |
| Mary-Anne Thomas | Minister for Health Minister for Ambulance Services |
| Gabrielle Williams | Minister for Mental Health Minister for Treaty and First Peoples |
| Steve McGhie | Cabinet Secretary |
Further information
For more information, please contact your Hawker Britton Victorian consultants JP Blandthorn on + 61 3 9034 3021 and Emma Webster on +61 3 9034 3020. Further Hawker Britton Occasional Papers on the activities of the Victorian Government are available here.