Jacinta Allan

Jacinta Marie Allan (born 19 September 1973) is an Australian politician serving as the 29th and current deputy premier of Victoria since June 2022. She is a member of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Labor Party and has been a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly (MLA) since 1999 for the division of Bendigo East. Allan is the longest serving Victorian female minister in the state's history, and currently the most senior sitting member of the Assembly.

The Honourable
Jacinta Allan
MP
29th Deputy Premier of Victoria
Assumed office
27 June 2022
PremierDaniel Andrews
Preceded byJames Merlino
Deputy Leader of the Labor Party in Victoria
Assumed office
25 June 2022
PremierDaniel Andrews
Preceded byJames Merlino
Leader of the House
In office
4 December 2014 – 27 June 2022
PremierDaniel Andrews
Preceded byLouise Asher
Succeeded byLizzie Blandthorn
Ministerial positions
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure
Assumed office
4 December 2014
PremierDaniel Andrews
Preceded byTerry Mulder (as Minister for Public Transport and Minister for Roads)
Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop
Assumed office
5 December 2022
PremierDaniel Andrews
Preceded byOffice established
Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery
Assumed office
5 December 2022
PremierDaniel Andrews
Preceded byJustin Madden (2002-2006)
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
for Bendigo East
Assumed office
18 September 1999
Preceded byMichael John
Personal details
Born
Jacinta Marie Allan

(1973-09-19) 19 September 1973
Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
Political partyLabor Party
Spouse(s)
Ben Davis
​
(m. 2004⁠–⁠2008)​

Yorick Piper
​
(m. 2012)​
Children2
Alma materLa Trobe University, Bendigo
ProfessionPolitician
Websitewww.jacintaallan.com

Early life

A member of a prominent Bendigo political family, Allan is the granddaughter of the late Bendigo Trades Hall Council President William Allan.[1]

Allan went to school at St Joseph’s Primary School in Quarry Hill, then Catholic College Bendigo. She completed her studies in a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) at La Trobe University in Bendigo.

Political career

Early career

Allan served in the political offices of Steve Gibbons and Neil O'Keefe, before her election to parliament.

She was first elected at the 1999 state election at the age of 25, making her the youngest ever elected female parliamentarian in Victoria.[2]

Bracks/Brumby governments (2002–2010)

She entered the ministry after the 2002 election, serving as Minister for Education Services and Minister for Employment and Youth Affairs. After a cabinet reshuffle in 2006, Allan's responsibilities were altered slightly, losing Youth Affairs in exchange for Women's Affairs.

She was promoted in August 2007, in a reshuffle sparked by the accession of John Brumby to the premiership.[3] In 2010, she became Minister for Industry and Trade. Allan was targeted by Right to Life organisations during her election campaign in 2010, having voted for abortion reform in parliament during 2008.[4]

Opposition (2010–2014)

After the defeat of the Brumby government in November 2010, Allan became manager of opposition business in the Legislative Assembly, as well as opposition spokeswoman for Roads, Regional and Rural Development and Bushfire Response. Since this time, Allan has also served as police and emergency services spokesperson.[5]

In a reshuffle announced in December 2013, Allan became Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Regional Cities and Regional & Rural Development, in addition to her responsibilities as Manager of Opposition Business.[6]

Andrews government (2014–present)

After the 2014 Victorian state election, Allan was appointed as Minister for Public Transport and Minister for Employment in the First Andrews Ministry.[7]

Following Labor’s victory, Allan was appointed Minister for Transport and Infrastructure in Second Andrews Ministry. The portfolio leads a large package of projects such as the Suburban Rail Loop and Metro Tunnel.

During the Victorian Government’s response to the COVID-19 health emergency, Allan became a member of the Crisis Council of Cabinet, serving as the Minister for the Coordination of Transport – COVID-19. In this role, she became responsible for leading all COVID-19 response activities across the transport portfolio.[8]

Personal life

Allan was born and grew up in Bendigo. Her cousin Keith William Allan was murdered in 2000.

She is married and has two young children who attend the local primary school.

References
  1. Colin Cleary (1999), Bendigo Labor. The Maintenance of Traditions in a Regional City, Epsom, pp.146–148 and p.227
  2. "The Premier of Victoria, Australia - Minister Biography". www.premier.vic.gov.au. Archived from the original on 16 June 2005. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  3. "Hon Jacinta Allan". Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  4. Lyle Allan (2010). "Margaret Tighe. The most powerful woman in Victoria," in Tasmanian Times, 30 November. http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php?/weblog/article/margaret-tighe.-the-most-powerful-woman-in-victoria/
  5. Martin, Reymer (6 February 2012). "Bendigo MP given new portfolio".
  6. "Jacinta Allan announces pregnancy". Bendigo Advertiser. 26 July 2013.
  7. "New Victorian Premier sworn in, new ministerial team revealed". ABC News. 4 December 2014.
  8. "Crisis Council Of Cabinet Set Up To Combat Coronavirus | Premier of Victoria". www.premier.vic.gov.au. Archived from the original on 3 April 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.