Allan,who took over as Commonwealth Games delivery minister in June last year after the government had already won the bid,cannot be blamed for any early miscalculations. Nor can Harriet Shing,whose Commonwealth Games legacy portfolio was alsoexpunged on Thursday.
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But multiple Labor figures said the saga reinforced a perception that Allan had overseen troubled projects as transport infrastructure minister.
It was in April that the state government delayed the Airport Rail project,blindsiding and angering MPs in the burgeoning western suburbs who are desperate for better transport connections. Federal funding for it remains in doubt.
Opposition Leader John Pesutto,who has referred the Games cancellation to the auditor-general for investigation,on Thursday called on Andrews to sack Allan from cabinet for “gross incompetence”.
“If ministerial responsibility counts for anything,heads must roll,starting with Jacinta Allan,who continues to oversee costly blowouts on major projects across Victoria,” Pesutto said.
“She should no longer be a minister,let alone succeed the premier when he inevitably steps down.”
Several MPs laughed off suggestions there were any rumblings against her. “That’s bullshit,” one said. “No one is talking like that.”
Housing Minister Colin Brooks said Pesutto would be sacked as Liberal leader before Allan was removed.
“Ministers can’t control everything in their portfolio,” Brooks said.
“[She’s] a fantastic deputy premier and minister. I’ve had a lot to do with Jacinta over a long time,and every conversation I’ve had with her has been focused on the Victorian people,policy and projects.”
The Age contacted Allan and her office on Thursday to seek comment,but the minister did not respond.
One senior MP said despite some agitators,there was strong loyalty for the leadership team and a belief in collectively owning policies that go well,along with those that don’t.
“I think over the past eight years or so,I have demonstrated that I’m not one to cut and run when challenges get hard,” Allan said on Wednesday.
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Any possible challenge to Allan’s position would likely wait until Andrews eventually resigns from parliament,two sources said. But even that was not viewed as a serious prospect.
It didn’t help that Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll – sometimes touted as a potential challenger from the divided Right faction – appeared to like an Instagram post from shadow Commonwealth Games spokesman David Southwick.
It declared in red:“JACINTA’S BLOWOUTS,” and was quickly unliked.