Former Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan to Quit Politics After 27-Year Career

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan makes a speech announcing she is stepping down as Premier of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia on July 28, 2026. Asanka Ratnayake/Getty ImagesJacinta Allan has ended her near three-decades career in politics announcing she will not recontest her seat.The former premier announced she would not contest her seat of Bendigo East at the Victorian election in November during a surprise press conference on Friday morning.It comes two weeks after she was ousted from the top job by deputy Ben Carroll.Allan held her seat since 1999 after being the youngest female MP elected to the Victorian parliament at just 25.“At the age of 25, as the newly elected member for Bendigo East, I wasn’t the status quo,” she said on Friday.“I was the youngest woman to be elected to the Victorian parliament, and I was proudly the first Labor member for the seat of Bendigo East.“I stated in my inaugural speech to the Victorian parliament, I intend to make a difference. Today, as I announce that I will not be contesting the 2026 election. I can proudly say I did just that.” Allan was appointed Daniel Andrews’ successor when he retired in September 2023 after he led Labor to election victories in 2014, 2018, and 2022.She had been been slated to go head-to-head with Liberal leader Jess Wilson at the ballot box in four months until a leadership spill on July 28.