By David Rood
Outgoing premier John Brumby has resigned as leader of the Victorian Labor Party, paving the way for a new generation to take over.
In a statement, Mr Brumby said that with a narrow margin between Labor and the Coalition, the task of the new ALP leader would be to hold the Liberals and Nationals to account "and ensure that Labor is ready to govern again".
John Brumby with his wife Rosemary McKenzie shortly after conceding defeat last night.Credit: Pat Scala
Outgoing health minister Daniel Andrews is a front runner to replace Mr Brumby but outgoing water minister Tim Holding is also in contention.
The party will meet this Friday to elect a new leader and shadow cabinet, Mr Brumby said.
Mr Brumby said it had been an honour to serve as premier and leader of the Labor party for three-and-a-half years.
“Throughout my time in public life, I have always strongly advocated political renewal," he said.
“As Labor leader in the 1990s, I brought fresh new talent into the Parliament, which put us in a winning position in 1999 and then delivered strong, capable government for over a decade.
“The time has come for a new Labor leader to serve the Victorian people and the party."
Repeating a message he used yesterday in his concession speech, Mr Brumby said his government had left Victoria in ‘‘a better, fairer and stronger place, with an economy and lifestyle the envy of the Western world’’.
“With such a narrow margin separating both sides of politics, the task of the new Labor Leader is to hold the Liberal and National parties to account and ensure that Labor is ready to govern again,” he said.
Mr Brumby became leader of the Victorian ALP and premier on July 20, 2007 when former premier Steve Bracks resigned from Parliament.
Prior to becoming premier, Mr Brumby was installed as Victorian treasurer in 2000.
As a key player in the Bracks government, he was central to the ALP’s electoral victories in 2002 and 2006, keeping the state budget in surplus throughout.
Mr Brumby was first elected to the State Parliament in 1993 to become leader of the opposition, but lost to Jeff Kennett in the 1996 state poll.
Three years later, he stepped down from the party leadership in favour of Steve Bracks just months before the 1999 election, which returned Labor to power.
Before that, Mr Brumby had represented the seat of Bendigo in the Federal Parliament.
Between 1983 and 1990 he was a member of the Hawke government, working for some of that time as chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Employment, Education and Training.
He was Victoria’s 45th premier.
With Thomas Hunter