Premier of Victoria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Premier of Victoria |
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Flag of Victoria
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| Department of Premier and Cabinet | |
| Style |
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| Status | Head of government |
| Member of |
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| Reports to | Parliament |
| Seat | 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne |
| Appointer | Governor of Victoria |
| Term length | At the governor's pleasure by convention, based on appointee's ability to command confidence in the Legislative Assembly |
| Constituting instrument | None (constitutional convention) |
| Formation | 28 November 1855 |
| First holder | William Haines |
| Deputy | Deputy premier of Victoria |
| Salary | A$481,190 |
| Website | www.premier.vic.gov.au |
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The Premier of Victoria is like the main leader of the state of Victoria in Australia. Think of them as the captain of a team that runs the state! The Premier leads a group called the Cabinet, which is made up of other important ministers. These ministers help make big decisions for Victoria.
The Governor officially chooses the Premier. To become Premier, a person must be a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, which is one part of the Parliament of Victoria. They also need to have the support of most members in that part of Parliament. Usually, the Premier is the leader of the political party that won the most seats in the election.
Many Premiers have special portraits painted for the Victorian Parliament. If a Premier serves for a very long time (over 3,000 days!), a statue might be made in their honor. The longest-serving Premier was Henry Bolte, who led Victoria for more than 17 years. The shortest-serving Premier was George Elmslie, who served for just 13 days. Currently, Ben Carroll is the Premier of Victoria. He became Premier on 28 July 2026.
Contents
The History of Victoria's Premiers
Victoria Becomes a Colony
Long ago, in 1851, the first group of leaders in Victoria met. Their main job was to create a set of rules, called a constitution. This constitution would help Victoria become a separate colony from New South Wales.
In 1855, these rules were approved. This meant Victoria could become its own colony, named after Queen Victoria. On 28 November 1855, Governor Charles Hotham chose William Haines to be Victoria's very first Premier. The first election for the new government happened the next year.
Early Days of Parliament
After the first election, William Haines became Premier again. This election also started Victoria's two-part Parliament system, called a bicameral system. The first official meeting of this Parliament was on 25 November 1856, in Parliament House, Melbourne.
In those early days, there were no big political parties like we have today. Most politicians were independent. This made it hard for one person to lead the government for a long time. Because of this, Victoria had many changes in leadership between 1855 and 1863.
After Australia's Federation
From 1901, when Australia became a federation (a group of states working together), until the 1950s, Victoria's government changed leaders often. There were 24 changes in government during this time!
Then, Henry Bolte from the Liberal Party became Premier in 1955. He served for over 17 years, becoming the longest-serving Premier ever. After him, other Liberal leaders served. In 1982, the Labor Party won, and John Cain became Premier. His father had also been Premier!
John Cain resigned in 1990. Then, Joan Kirner became Victoria's first female Premier. More recently, Daniel Andrews was Premier from 2014 to 2023. He won three elections. After he resigned, Jacinta Allan became Premier, and then Ben Carroll took over on 28 July 2026.
How a Premier is Chosen
Becoming Premier
To become Premier, a person must first be a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. They also need to have the support of most of the other members in that part of Parliament. This usually means they are the leader of the political party that won the most seats in the election.
Sometimes, no single party wins a clear majority. This is called a minority government. In this case, a party might get help from other independent politicians to form a government.
The Governor's Role
When a Premier steps down or their party loses an election, the Governor officially appoints a new Premier. The Governor makes sure that Victoria always has a government.
If a government loses an election, the old Premier and their team stay in charge for a short time. This is called a "caretaker" period. They keep things running until the new government is ready. The outgoing Premier usually tells the Governor who should be the next leader. The Governor then officially appoints the new Premier and their team.
Elections and Terms
Elections for the Victorian Parliament happen every four years. They are held on the last Saturday of November. The next election is set for 28 November 2026. There is no limit to how many times a person can be Premier.
What the Premier Does
Leading Victoria
The Premier has many important jobs. They lead the Parliament and are the main leader of the Cabinet. The Premier chooses other ministers and gives them specific areas to manage, like education or health. These areas are called "portfolios."
The Premier also helps the Victorian Government talk with the Governor, other states in Australia, the national Australian Government, and even governments in other countries.
National Cabinet Member
The Premier also represents Victoria in a group called the National Cabinet. This group was created in 2020 to help Australia deal with big issues, like the COVID-19 pandemic. It's where leaders from all Australian states and territories work together.
Special Recognitions for Premiers
Premier's Salary
Being the Premier is a big job, and it comes with a salary. As of 1 July 2023, the Premier earns about A$481,190 each year. This money includes a basic salary for being a member of Parliament, extra pay for being the Premier, and an allowance for expenses. A special group decides how much the Premier gets paid.
Official Portraits
Most Premiers since 1933 have had their portraits painted. These paintings become part of the Victorian Parliament's art collection. If a former Premier is still alive, they usually sit for their portrait. If they have passed away, their portrait is painted using old photos.
Honoring Long-Serving Premiers with Statues
Premiers who serve for a very long time, specifically over 3,000 days (which is about 8 years and 88 days), can have a statue made in their honor. This is a way to remember their important work.
Six Premiers have served this long: Daniel Andrews, Henry Bolte, John Cain Jr, Albert Dunstan, Rupert Hamer, and James McCulloch. Four of these Premiers already have statues. Daniel Andrews' statue is still being made. These bronze statues are usually placed near the Premier's office at 1 Treasury Place.
Retirement Benefits
After they retire, former Premiers sometimes get an office in the historic Old Treasury Building, Melbourne. This gives them a place to continue their work or projects.
Lists of Premiers
The longest-serving Premier was Henry Bolte, who led Victoria for over 17 years (from 1955 to 1972). He was from the Liberal Party. The shortest-serving Premier was George Elmslie, who was Premier for only 13 days in 1913. He was the first Premier from the Labor Party.
You can find more lists about Premiers here:
- List of premiers of Victoria
- List of premiers of Victoria by time in office
See also
- Deputy Premier of Victoria
- List of Victorian government agencies
