Ben Carroll

Summary

Benjamin Alan Carroll (born 12 July 1975) is an Australian politician and lawyer and has been the current deputy premier of Victoria since October 2023.[1][2] He has been the deputy leader of the Victorian branch of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) since 2023 and has been a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the division of Niddrie since 2012.

Ben Carroll
30th Deputy Premier of Victoria
Assumed office
2 October 2023
PremierJacinta Allan
Preceded byJacinta Allan
Deputy Leader of the Victorian Labor Party
Assumed office
27 September 2023
LeaderJacinta Allan
Preceded byJacinta Allan
Minister for Education
Assumed office
2 October 2023
PremierJacinta Allan
Preceded byNatalie Hutchins
Minister for Public Transport
In office
22 June 2020 – 2 October 2023
PremierDaniel Andrews
Jacinta Allan
Preceded byMelissa Horne
Succeeded byGabrielle Williams (as Minister for Public and Active Transport)
Minister for Industry and Innovation
In office
5 December 2022 – 2 October 2023
PremierDaniel Andrews
Jacinta Allan
Preceded byMartin Pakula (as Minister for Jobs, Innovation and Trade)
Succeeded byNatalie Hutchins (as Minister for Jobs and Industry)
Minister for Manufacturing Sovereignty
In office
5 December 2022 – 2 October 2023
PremierDaniel Andrews
Jacinta Allan
Preceded byPosition created
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Minister for Employment
In office
5 December 2022 – 2 October 2023
PremierDaniel Andrews
Jacinta Allan
Preceded byJaala Pulford
Succeeded byVicki Ward
Minister for Roads and Road Safety
In office
22 June 2020 – 5 December 2022
PremierDaniel Andrews
Preceded byJaala Pulford
Succeeded byMelissa Horne
Minister for Corrections, Youth Justice and Crime Prevention
In office
29 November 2018 – 22 June 2020
PremierDaniel Andrews
Preceded byGayle Tierney
Succeeded byNatalie Hutchins
Minister for Victim Support
In office
29 November 2018 – 22 June 2020
PremierDaniel Andrews
Preceded byPosition created
Succeeded byNatalie Hutchins
Minister for Industry and Employment
In office
16 October 2017 – 29 November 2018
PremierDaniel Andrews
Preceded byWade Noonan
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
for Niddrie
Assumed office
24 March 2012
Preceded byRob Hulls
Personal details
Born
Benjamin Alan Carroll

(1975-07-12) 12 July 1975 (age 48)
Coburg, Victoria, Australia
Political partyLabor Party
Alma materLa Trobe University
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionLawyer
Websitebencarroll.com.au

Carroll also currently holds the positions of Minister For Education and Deputy Premier of Victoria in the state government since the 2023 cabinet reshuffle which resulted in the First Allan Ministry. In addition to his ministerial portfolios, Carroll is a member of two parliamentary committees - the Legislative Assembly Standing Orders Committee and Dispute Resolution Committee. [3]He has previously held various ministerial portfolios since 2020 in Industry, employment, road safety and support, and Public Transport.

Early years and education edit

Carroll was born in Airport West, Victoria.[4] He attended primary school at St Christopher's Primary, and high school at St Bernard's College in Essendon. He then studied law at La Trobe University, graduating with honours in 2000. He was admitted as a legal solicitor in 2010. He holds a master's in law from La Trobe, having commenced the degree subsequent to his 2012 election.

Prior to entering politics Carroll worked as a sales assistant for Kmart in Airport West, and for the insurance company AAMI in its motor vehicles division. He also worked for the Victorian Government Solicitor between 2009 and 2010.[5]

Political career edit

Carroll has worked as a political adviser to Steve Bracks, Justin Madden, and Stephen Conroy.[5]

In 2012, Carroll was elected to the seat of Niddrie in a by-election following the resignation of Rob Hulls, and was re-elected in 2014 and 2018.

In December 2014, Carroll was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Justice in the incoming Andrews Labor Government. In October 2017, he was appointed Minister for Industry and Employment, after the resignation of Wade Noonan from cabinet.[6]

In September 2023, Carroll was elected deputy party leader following the resignation of Daniel Andrews as Premier and incumbent deputy Jacinta Allan's ascension to the position.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ "Allan Ministry Sworn in". Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Premier of Victoria". Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Ben Carroll | Parliament of Victoria". www.parliament.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  4. ^ Lucas, Clay: Niddrie, at least, swings Labor's way, The Age, 26 March 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Member Profile - The Hon. Ben Carroll". parliament.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  6. ^ Carey, Adam (16 October 2017). "Ben Carroll joins Andrews' cabinet to take on key employment ministry". The Age. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  7. ^ "Ministers of the Crown (per GG2023 S513)" (PDF). Victoria Government Gazette. Victorian Government Printer. 27 September 2023. p. 1–2. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

External links edit

  • Parliament of Victoria: Members Information
Victorian Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member for Niddrie
2012–present
Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Industry and Employment
2017–2018
Ministry abolished
Preceded by Minister for Corrections, Youth Justice and Crime Prevention
2018–2020
Succeeded by
Ministry created Minister for Victim Support
2018–2020
Preceded by Minister for Roads and Road Safety
2020–2023
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Public Transport
2020–2023
Succeeded by
Preceded by Medical Research
2023–present
Incumbent
Preceded by Minister for Education
2023–present
Preceded by Deputy Premier of Victoria
2023–present
Party political offices
Preceded by Deputy leader of the Victorian Labor Party
2023–present
Incumbent