About Jacinta Allan
Jacinta Marie Allan (born 19 September 1973) is an Australian politician who served as the 49th premier of Victoria from 2023 to 2026, holding office as the leader of the Victorian Labor Party. She has been the member of Parliament (MP) for the district of Bendigo East since 1999. Born in Bendigo, Allan was elected to the Legislative Assembly at the 1999 state election at the age of 25, becoming the youngest female parliamentarian in Victorian history. She entered the ministry in 2002, serving in a range of portfolios including education, skills, and regional development under provincial Steve Bracks and John Brumby. During this period she oversaw initiatives to address teacher shortages, initiated a review of school governance, and faced criticism over school funding and infrastructure. Following Labor's defeat at the 2010 state election, Allan served in the opposition shadow ministry under Daniel Andrews. When Labor returned to government in 2014, she was appointed Minister for Public Transport and later Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, overseeing major infrastructure projects including the Suburban Rail Loop, Metro Tunnel, and Melbourne Airport Rail. Allan was appointed as the 29th deputy premier in June 2022 following the resignation of James Merlino, a promotion widely interpreted as positioning her as Andrews' eventual successor. Allan became premier on 27 September 2023 after Andrews' resignation. As premier, Allan pursued a program of housing and planning reform, including overhauling planning laws to reduce approval times and rezone areas near transport hubs for higher-density development. Her government oversaw the completion of the Metro Tunnel and West Gate Tunnel projects, and enacted Australia's first treaty with First Peoples. Her premiership was also marked by challenges including a corruption scandal involving the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) and declining approval ratings. Her government's plan to demolish and rebuild public housing towers faced sustained opposition from tenants and advocacy groups. In the lead up to the 2026 state election, Allan faced declining approval ratings and growing frustration within her party. Ahead of an expected leadership challenge, she announced her resignation as premier and leader of the Labor Party on 28 July 2026. Allan was first elected to parliament at the age of 25, becoming the youngest female parliamentarian in Victorian history. Allan was first elected at the 1999 state election at the age of 25, making her the youngest ever elected female parliamentarian in Victoria. Allan became premier on 27 September 2023 after Andrews' resignation, succeeding him unopposed following factional negotiations that resulted in Ben Carroll becoming her deputy.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.