The Labor Party in Victoria is going through its most difficult period in the 21st century.

The leadership of Premier Jacinta Allan is under serious threat, and divisions appear to have crystallised within the government over who should lead it to the election due in November this year.

Until recently, the Labor Party has been a remarkably successful political force in Victoria. This has been in contrast to the Liberal opposition, which seems to have been mired in internal disunity.

The Liberal Party has been impacted by disputes and divisions over personnel and policy settings for many years, with divisions between socially conservative and socially progressive members fuelling a sense of disunity. The Liberal Party has also gone through several leaders since being in opposition, with the party appointing the current leader, Jess Wilson, in late 2025.

Now, however, it’s Labor looking like a party rife with divisions and electoral despair.

Andrews casts a large shadow

Having won power in 1999 with Steve Bracks at the helm, Labor remained in government until 2010. By that stage, Bracks had resigned and was replaced with John Brumby, who could not stop Ted Baillieu leading the Coalition to victory in 2010.

However, the........

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