Toughness and defiance are virtues in politics. On this occasion, they backfired

July 29, 2026 — 5:00am

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It is a miracle that Labor’s factional warlords have been quiet for more than a decade in Victoria. The notorious “faceless hacks” who occupy seats of power without occupying seats in parliament were happy to sit back and watch as Daniel Andrews delivered them three successive election victories before passing the state’s top political office over to his chosen successor, Jacinta Allan.

That transfer of power, by modern standards at least, was conducted with little more than a whimper, with the exception of one “nuclear explosion” from the outgoing premier.

Victorian Labor’s rare era of party unity dissolved abruptly on Sunday night, as The Age reported. A meeting of the party’s factional conveners agreed Allan had lost the support of the party room. In the hours that followed, Allan’s characteristic defiance was on display. She declared her intention to lead Labor to the state election despite the factional conveners’ decision, despite the fact members of her cabinet had told her to resign and despite the fact deputy premier Ben Carroll had publicly signalled his intention to run for the leadership.

Even as she announced a change of heart and her decision to stand down on Tuesday morning, Allan declared herself a fighter who could have held on to the........

© The Age