Saturday 10 October 2026
Afternoon EditionRSS
ZOTPAPER

News without the noise

ZOTPAPER
MelbourneDeveloping

Carroll and Wilson dodge minority government questions as polls point to hung parliament

Premier rules out Greens deal; opposition leader refuses to engage on One Nation as Victorian election nears

By LineZotpaper
Published
Updated
Read Time2 min
Sources4 outlets
With Victoria's state election weeks away, Premier Ben Carroll and Opposition Leader Jess Wilson have both avoided committing to how they would govern if no party wins a majority, despite successive polls suggesting a minority government is increasingly likely.

It was a tale of two interviews.

When Premier Ben Carroll was on Monday asked if he would accept the support of Greens MPs in parliament if it meant staying in power after November's state election, he said he'd throw the keys back.

A day later, his opponent Jess Wilson faced the same question about One Nation. The opposition leader was less emphatic. She told the ABC's Raf Epstein the only deal she was interested in was the existing coalition agreement between the Liberals and the Nationals.

"I am running to form a majority government," she said repeatedly, refusing to engage with the prospect of needing votes from Pauline Hanson's party to maintain supply or confidence in parliament.

Carroll's braggadocio and Wilson's evasion, while different in tone, reflect the same disconnect between the fundamental change taking place in Victorian politics and the determination of the established parties to stick to the old rules.

Nearly every opinion poll published over the past six months, including successive Resolve Political Monitor surveys conducted for this masthead, indicate that Victoria's next government, whether led by Labor or the Liberal and National parties, may need the support of other parties to run the state.

Yet, whenever they are asked about this, and which parties they may be willing to work with, Carroll and Wilson refuse to countenance the possibility of not being able to govern in their own right.

Bob Brown, the Greens elder statesman who in 2010 negotiated with then-prime minister Julia Gillard an agreement to form government, has weighed in on the debate, though his full remarks were not included in the available reporting.

§

Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The next Victorian government may not control a majority in the lower house, forcing the major parties to negotiate with crossbench MPs like the Greens or One Nation to pass supply and confidence votes.
  • Voters face an election where neither major party has clearly stated how it would handle a hung parliament, leaving significant uncertainty about post-election stability.
  • The stance of the two leaders could shape coalition negotiations immediately after the November poll, with implications for governance and policy delivery.

Background

Australian state elections typically produce majority governments, but Victoria has seen a rise in support for minor parties and independents in recent years. Polling ahead of this November's election has consistently pointed to a possible hung parliament, with neither Labor nor the Liberal-National coalition able to secure a majority in their own right. The Greens have traditionally held seats in inner Melbourne, while One Nation has campaigned on fiscal repair and has drawn attention with promises that have been criticised for creating budget black holes.

Key Perspectives

Premier Ben Carroll (Labor): He has emphatically ruled out accepting Greens support to form government, signalling a preference for majority rule and distancing himself from the crossbench. Opposition Leader Jess Wilson (Liberal/National coalition): She maintains her focus on forming a majority government, declining to discuss any deal with One Nation, and emphasises the existing coalition agreement with the Nationals as the only arrangement she considers. Greens elder Bob Brown: He has historical experience negotiating a minority government at the federal level, suggesting that crossbench deals can be workable, though his current comments were not fully reported. Critics/Skeptics: Both leaders are accused of avoiding the reality that a minority parliament is likely, leaving voters without clear information on how the state would be governed if no party wins outright.

What to Watch

  • The final pre-election polls, expected in the weeks before November's vote, to see if the projected minority scenario shifts.
  • Any further public statements from Carroll or Wilson on potential crossbench alliances as the campaign progresses.
  • The outcome of the election itself, including the number of seats won by Greens, One Nation, and independents, which will determine the post-election bargaining landscape.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

How we workSubscribe