Premier of Victoria

Premier of Victoria
source
Post	Premier
Body	Victoria
Insigniasize	120
Insigniacaption	Coat of arms of Victoria
Flagsize	120
Flagcaption	Flag of Victoria
Incumbent	Jacinta Allan
Incumbentsince	27 September 2023
Department	Department of Premier and Cabinet
Style	The Honourable
Member of	Parliament of Victoria, Executive Council of Victoria
Reports to	Parliament of Victoria
Residence	Treasury Place
Seat	Melbourne
Nominator	Political parties
Appointer	Governor of Victoria
Termlength	At His Majesty's pleasure
Formation	28 November 1855
First	William Haines
Deputy	Deputy Premier of Victoria
Salary	A$481,190 (2023)

Premier of Victoria. The Premier of Victoria is the head of government in the Australian state of Victoria. Appointed by the Governor of Victoria, the Premier leads the Executive Council of Victoria and the Ministry, deriving authority from the ability to command the confidence of the Legislative Assembly. The office, established with the advent of responsible government in 1855, is a central institution in Victorian state politics, with its incumbent wielding significant executive and political power.

Role and responsibilities

The Premier serves as the state's chief minister, chairing the Executive Council of Victoria and overseeing the Department of Premier and Cabinet. Key duties include setting the government's policy agenda, determining the composition of the Ministry, and representing Victoria at national forums such as the National Cabinet and the Council of Australian Governments. The Premier is the principal government spokesperson, particularly during crises like the Black Saturday bushfires or the COVID-19 pandemic, and plays a pivotal role in managing the state's relationship with the Commonwealth Government on issues like GST distribution and infrastructure projects such as the Suburban Rail Loop.

Appointment and tenure

The Premier is formally appointed by the Governor of Victoria under the conventions of the Westminster system, whereby the Governor invites the leader of the party or coalition commanding a majority in the Legislative Assembly to form a government. There is no fixed term; the Premier serves At His Majesty's pleasure, but typically remains in office while retaining the confidence of the lower house. A Premier may resign following an election loss, a loss of party leadership—as seen with Ted Baillieu in 2013—or for personal reasons. The Governor of Victoria may dismiss a Premier in exceptional constitutional circumstances, though this is rare in modern practice.

List of premiers

Since the first Premier, William Haines, took office in 1855, Victoria has had 49 premiers. The longest-serving premier was Henry Bolte of the Liberal Party, who governed from 1955 to 1972, overseeing periods of significant economic growth and projects like the West Gate Bridge. Other notable premiers include John Cain Sr., a Labor premier during the Great Depression; Jeff Kennett, who implemented major reforms in the 1990s including the privatisation of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria; and Daniel Andrews, Victoria's second-longest serving premier, who led the state through the protracted COVID-19 pandemic. The current premier, Jacinta Allan, succeeded Andrews in September 2023.

Official residence

The Premier's official Melbourne office is located within the Treasury Place complex in East Melbourne, adjacent to the Parliament House and the Old Treasury Building. While there is no dedicated official residence akin to The Lodge or Kirribilli House, the Premier may utilise government properties for official functions. Historically, some premiers, such as Dick Hamer, resided in the stately Menzies Hotel during their tenure. The Department of Premier and Cabinet provides logistical support from the 1 Treasury Place address.

See also

* Governor of Victoria * Parliament of Victoria * Deputy Premier of Victoria * Leader of the Opposition (Victoria) * Politics of Victoria

Category:Premiers of Victoria Category:Victoria (Australia) politics