The MPs who could spoil Andrews’ succession party

afr.com:

Victorian Labor MPs head to a retreat on the Mornington Peninsula next week amid mounting pressure on Premier Daniel Andrews and his hand-picked successor Jacinta Allan over their handling of the Commonwealth Games.

The two-day Labor caucus conference at Peppers Moonah Links Resort in Fingal on Wednesday and Thursday next week is typically when grievances are aired, one Labor MP said. Another Labor insider told AFR Weekend that “anyone with political animal or ambition will be doing the numbers now”.

Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews and deputy premier Jacinta Allan cancelling the Games on Monday.  Joe Armao

Polling shows most voters, and Labor MPs expect Mr Andrews to hand over power sometime before the 2026 state election, rather than run for a fourth term.

Ms Allan has been the front-runner to become the next premier since Mr Andrews’ mobilised his dominant Social Left faction to elect her as his deputy in June last year.

But she has been increasing damaged as Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop and overseeing cost blow outs on major projects.

In May,The Australian Financial Review reported a factional deal which bolstered the influence of Labor MPs on the right of the party known as Labor Unity in a coalition with Industrial Left MPs.

The group sounded out whether Ben Carroll, the Minister for Industry, Manufacturing, Employment and Public Transport, could potentially challenge Ms Allan for leadership if Mr Andrews was to depart.

Former Victorian premier Ted Baillieu shakes hands with state Labor minister Ben Carroll. Eddie Jim

Mr Carroll is part of an amalgam of right-aligned Labor factions numbering 30 MPs, compared to the Socialist Left, which shot to 41 MPs after Treasurer Tim Pallas abandoned his right faction