Victorian Premier Ben Carroll’s first day in office has sparked an unexpected political storm after comedian and radio host Dave Hughes claimed one line from the new leader’s inaugural speech inadvertently reinforced years of criticism directed at the state Labor government.

Carroll, sworn in as Victoria’s 50th Premier after Jacinta Allan stepped down following a dramatic leadership spill, used his first public appearance to signal a break from the governments that had dominated Victorian politics for more than a decade.

Among the most closely scrutinised moments of his inaugural press conference was Carroll’s declaration that he was “not Dan Andrews” and “not Jacinta Allan”, coupled with a pledge that integrity would be central to the government he intends to lead.

While the remarks were widely interpreted as an attempt to present a fresh direction following Labor’s internal upheaval, Hughes argued they carried a much deeper implication.

Posting a video to Instagram shortly after Carroll’s first media appearance, Hughes said he had never seen an incoming leader publicly distance himself from predecessors within the same political party so forcefully.

“I have never seen an incoming leader whack their predecessors harder than Ben Carroll gave it to Jacinta Allan and Dan Andrews today,” Hughes said.

The comedian then replayed the section of Carroll’s remarks that had caught his attention.

According to Hughes, Carroll said: “In the government I lead, integrity will not be optional. I’m not Dan Andrews. I’m not Jacinta Allan.”

For Hughes, those comments represented more than a routine effort by a newly elected leader to establish his own identity.

Instead, he argued the statement appeared to acknowledge criticisms that have been directed at the previous Labor administrations over issues including transparency, accountability and public spending.

Hughes pointed out that Carroll had served within Labor governments throughout the Andrews and Allan years.

“He’s been there the whole time. The whole 12 years. He’s watched every single move they’ve made,” Hughes said.

The broadcaster questioned why integrity had become one of Carroll’s first priorities if the government he had served in for more than a decade had already met that standard.

Hughes suggested the Premier’s comments effectively strengthened arguments made by critics of the previous administrations.

He urged viewers to think carefully about what Carroll’s remarks might imply regarding controversies that have surrounded Victorian politics in recent years, including repeated political disputes over major government spending and budget management.

“The man who watched it all said in the government he leads, integrity will not be optional,” Hughes said.

“I hope he’s right.”

Although Hughes said he still hoped Labor would lose office at the coming state election, he described Carroll’s comments as one of the strongest public criticisms he had ever heard from an incoming leader directed towards predecessors from the same political party.

“I’ve never seen a bigger whack for leaders, from an incoming leader on the same team, as that,” he said.

He went further by arguing that Carroll’s remarks appeared to validate concerns raised by long-time critics of the Andrews and Allan governments.

Hughes claimed Carroll had witnessed everything that occurred during Labor’s years in government and was now promising a different approach focused on integrity and careful management of taxpayer money.

He also highlighted another commitment made by Carroll during his inaugural address, in which the new Premier pledged to respect every dollar of public money spent by his government and ensure expenditure delivered benefits for Victorians.

For Hughes, that promise reinforced his belief that Carroll was attempting to distance himself from previous administrations rather than simply succeeding them.

The comedian has become an increasingly vocal political commentator in recent years despite previously being regarded as a long-time Labor supporter.

His public criticism of the Victorian government has intensified as debates over state debt, infrastructure spending, integrity and government accountability have become more prominent in Victorian politics.

Those comments came on the same day former Premier Daniel Andrews publicly congratulated Carroll on becoming Victoria’s new leader.

Despite Carroll’s repeated insistence that he would chart his own course, Andrews offered warm praise for the man now leading the Labor government.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Andrews congratulated Carroll on securing the leadership and described becoming Premier as a great honour.

He also recalled campaigning alongside Carroll during the 2012 Niddrie by-election, saying he had recognised Carroll’s political ability more than a decade ago.

“I saw then what I know now – he is a great campaigner who will take it up to the Liberal Party and One Nation,” Andrews said.

The endorsement highlighted the delicate political balance Carroll now faces.

On one hand, he has acknowledged the achievements of previous Labor governments while thanking both Andrews and Allan for their service.

On the other, he has made a conscious effort to convince voters that his premiership will represent a clear departure from the style and priorities that came to define Victoria’s Labor government over the past 12 years.

Political observers have noted that newly elected leaders often seek to establish their own identity, particularly when replacing a government facing declining public support ahead of an election.

Carroll’s repeated statement that he is “not Dan Andrews” and “not Jacinta Allan” has therefore become one of the defining messages of his first day as Premier, signalling his intention to lead under a different political brand while remaining within the same Labor administration.

Whether voters interpret those comments as a genuine commitment to change or simply a political repositioning is likely to become a central issue as Victoria heads towards the November state election.

For Carroll, the challenge will be convincing the public that meaningful change can occur while many senior ministers, policies and administrative structures from previous governments remain in place.

For Hughes, however, the significance of the inaugural speech was already clear.

He argued that Carroll’s own words had created one of the most revealing political moments of the leadership transition, suggesting the Premier had unintentionally fuelled the very criticisms Labor’s opponents have been making for years.

Labor supporters, meanwhile, are expected to argue that Carroll’s emphasis on integrity and fiscal responsibility reflects a forward-looking agenda rather than an admission of wrongdoing by previous governments.

No evidence was presented by Hughes to substantiate his allegations regarding corruption, and no court has found either Daniel Andrews or Jacinta Allan engaged in corrupt conduct. His comments reflect his personal political opinion expressed on social media.

As Victoria enters a new political era under Ben Carroll, the debate over whether his promises represent genuine renewal or simply a change in leadership style is likely to remain a major feature of the state’s election campaign in the months ahead.