April 14, 2026 — 11:36am
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Four Labor MPs have been elevated to the Allan government ministry just weeks away from budget day and seven months before the state election.
A meeting of state MPs on Tuesday elected Kororoit MP Luba Grigorovitch, Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke, Eureka MP Michaela Settle and Box Hill MP Paul Hamer into cabinet.
Jacinta Allan heads into the caucus meeting to decide who will be promoted to the three vacant portfolio positions on Tuesday.Penny Stephens
They will be tasked with portfolios ahead of the state budget on May 5, followed by parliamentary budget estimates hearings in the weeks after, with the new cabinet to be the leadership team Premier Jacinta Allan takes to the November state election.
Edbrooke was first elected to parliament when Labor came into power in 2014, with Hamer and Settle elected in the landslide election in 2018 and Grigorovitch entering parliament in 2022.
Hamer emerged as a late contender for the fourth spot, putting him against Mordialloc MP Tim Richardson, before ultimately securing enough support to be elevated.
Backers of Hamer and Richardson were frantically trying to shore up support on Monday night and Tuesday morning ahead of the vote.
Luba Grigorovitch ahead of the caucus meeting.PENNY STEPHENS
Before being elected, Grigorovitch was the state secretary of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union from 2014 to 2022.
Edbrooke has worked as a firefighter and teacher. He made headlines in 2023 when he survived an emergency landing in a light aeroplane and weeks later helped resuscitate a man who was having trouble breathing.
A long-time regional Victorian, Settle owned and operated a family sheep farm in Ararat for a decade, and Hamer was a civil engineer before winning what was once a safe Liberal seat in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
Paul Edbrooke.PENNY STEPHENS
Allan will now assign these MPs with portfolios as part of a broader reshuffle of cabinet positions, which will be confirmed on Wednesday.
Mental Health Minister Ingrid Stitt is being touted as a possible replacement for the health portfolio, which plays a central role in the government’s strategy and chances of re-election.
Michaela Settle.PENNY STEPHENS
The new ministers replace Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas, Finance Minister Danny Pearson and Water Minister Gayle Tierney, who stood down on Monday and confirmed they would not recontest their seats in November. Natalie Hutchins had earlier announced her retirement.
Paul Hamer.PENNY STEPHENS
Allan and Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio are now the only two ministers remaining from Daniel Andrews’ original cabinet, which was sworn in after the 2014 election.
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