Four of Victoria's most senior government ministers will resign at the next election and have stepped down from their portfolios ahead of the November vote.
Deputy Premier and Education Minister James Merlino, Health Minister Martin Foley, Police Minister Lisa Neville and Sports Minister Martin Pakula will serve on the backbench until the end of their terms.
The exodus has forced a significant shake-up of Premier Daniel Andrews' front bench ahead of the November vote.
The four outgoing ministers join Planning and Housing Minister Richard Wynne, who announced last year he would not recontest his seat at the next election.
They join the long list of ministers who have left the ministry since the Andrews government's re-election 2018, including former Attorney-General Jill Hennessy, former Health Minister Jenny Mikakos, Gavin Jennings, Adem Somyurek, Marlene Kairouz, Luke Donnellan and Robin Scott.
The opposition has seized on the "unprecedented" turnover, pointing towards the appointment of four different health ministers in four years as a sign of instability within the government.
Cabinet reshuffle expected by 'Tuesday at the latest'
The Parliamentary Labor Party will convene for a caucus meeting on Saturday morning to confirm the new appointments to the cabinet, with the new ministry to be sworn in by "Tuesday at the latest".
Mr Andrews said the party would look to break from convention, where a premier from the left of the party is counterbalanced by a deputy from the right.
"I can confirm that the new leadership team has met this morning and we will together, make a recommendation to our colleagues at tomorrow morning's caucus meeting that Jacinta Allan be named as deputy premier," Mr Andrews said.
Ms Allan, who has previously stepped into the role of acting premier, is from the same Socialist Left faction as the Premier.
"I don't think it's right to talk about that sort of tradition," Mr Andrews said.
"Let's not get into these sorts of games. I am very confident, just as my senior leadership team colleagues are very confident, that the caucus will make the right decision."
Friday's appointment of five new coordinating ministers — the most senior minister in a government department — provides insight into the makeup of the incoming new cabinet, with Saturday's caucus meeting the final step in rubber-stamping the changes.
Mary-Anne Thomas, Lily D'Ambrosio, Danny Pearson, Natalie Hutchins and Ben Carroll will become new coordinating ministers across five government departments.
Treasurer Tim Pallas, mooted Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan and Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes will retain their current roles as coordinating ministers of their departments.
Deputy Leader calls time ahead of November election
Mr Merlino will step down from the frontbench, leaving his roles as Minister for Education and Minister for Mental Health.
He said he would not contest the seat of Monbulk at the election in November, ending a 20-year stint in parliament.
Once considered a possible successor to Premier Daniel Andrews, James Merlino stood in as Acting Premier last year while Mr Andrews recovered from a serious back injury.
In a statement, Mr Merlino said the strain of political life had bled over into his personal life, and that stepping down from his role was the right decision for his family.
"Politics undoubtedly puts a greater burden on your partner than should ever be the case," he said.
The Premier was effusive in his praise for Mr Merlino and said Victoria "never had a better acting premier."
"There's no one better under pressure, especially when the stakes are high. He always delivers," Mr Andrews said.
Health Minister to step down from Albert Park
Mr Foley, who guided Victoria through much of the COVID-19 pandemic, announced he would not contest his seat of Albert Park at the election.
Mr Foley said he was looking forward to spending more time with his family.
"I am looking forward to contributing to a better, fairer, sustainable Victoria in a different capacity," Mr Foley said.
"One that allows me more time to focus on my family and wellbeing and different interests."
Mr Andrews credited Mr Foley with a raft of achievements, including establishing Victoria's first medically-supervised injecting room and driving Australia's first Royal Commission into mental health.
"Martin has never been afraid to face difficult issues, and make difficult decisions, when he knew it was the right thing to do – and when he knew it would help people," he said.
Police Minister ends two-decade stint as Member for Bellarine
Minister for Police Lisa Neville cited health concerns for her resignation, announcing her intention to step back from politics as she deals with Crohn's disease.
Ms Neville was forced to take medical leave from parliamentary duty last year due to complications associated with the disease.
She has served as Member for Bellarine since 2002 and became Victoria's first female Minister for Police in 2021.
Ms Neville told ABC Radio Melbourne's Drive program she was glad to have returned to the role after being hospitalised, but said she could no longer balance the workload with her own health.
"Because of the health issues, just not able to give the community the same drive and energy that's required to maintain these ministerial portfolios," Ms Neville said.
"I've thrown myself into public life full-on, I can't do it part-time, and I didn't feel I had another four years in me to do that."
Police Association of Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt said Ms Neville had shown exceptional commitment during her time in the role, with her stewardship coinciding with "arguably the most challenging environment in the history of Victoria Police".
"The minister leaves her position with the utmost respect of the Police Association and the gratitude of our members," Mr Gatt said.
Mr Andrews complimented Ms Neville's tireless work in expanding the police force, and said her resignation was well-earned.
Sport Minister to resign from extensive portfolio
Martin Pakula also announced his resignation, ending a 16-year career as Member for Western Metropolitan, Lyndhurst and Keysborough.
His seat was scrapped in a boundary redistribution ahead of the November vote, but he was tipped to move to the upper house if he stayed in politics.
"A decade in the ministry has taught me that a government with big ambitions for the state, its people and its future is something to be cherished," Mr Pakula said.
"It's certainly not something I have ever taken for granted, and if the rest of my working life is half as rewarding as this chapter has been, I will consider myself truly fortunate."
Mr Pakula leaves behind an expansive portfolio, with the Premier now needing to fill the roles of minister for industry support and recovery, minister for trade, minister for business precincts, minister for tourism, sport and major events, and minister for racing.
Serving as attorney-general from 2014 to 2018, Mr Pakula oversaw the Labor government's National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, work that Mr Andrews said he "can be rightly proud of".
The Premier was also complimentary of Mr Pakula's work in championing events and tourism in Victoria through the pandemic.
Opposition bristles at claims exodus represents 'renewal'
Outgoing Mr Wynne framed the announcements as making way for "renewal", but Opposition Leader Matthew Guy rejected the idea.
"Renewal is not ministers jumping ship before an election, renewal is a change of government and a new premier."
Mr Guy said the number of ministers leaving cabinet since the last election should ring warning bells for Victorians.
"Daniel Andrews has lost more than half of his cabinet since his last election, that is unprecedented," he said.
"If he can't even keep his own team together, why should the rest of the state have faith that the team he's putting in place will be there longer as well?"
