Two of Victoria’s most senior Labor ministers will leave Parliament, bringing an end to decades of political service just days after backing former Premier Jacinta Allan during the dramatic leadership battle that ultimately elevated Ben Carroll to the state’s top job.

The resignations of Harriet Shing and Lily D’Ambrosio represent the latest chapter in a remarkable week of political upheaval within the Victorian Labor Party, as the new Premier prepares to unveil his first Cabinet and reset the government’s direction ahead of the November state election.

Both ministers announced they would end their parliamentary careers after standing firmly behind Jacinta Allan during Labor’s leadership contest. The pair, prominent members of the party’s Socialist Left faction, had publicly and privately argued against replacing Ms Allan with Mr Carroll before the caucus voted for a change of leadership.

Although they were among Ms Allan’s strongest supporters, Mr Carroll sought to project unity following their departure, thanking both ministers for their years of public service and highlighting their contributions to successive Labor governments.

In a statement, the Premier praised the pair for what he described as decades of commitment to improving the lives of Victorians.

“Over many years of dedicated service, they have brought compassion, determination and a strong sense of purpose to their roles, delivering outcomes that have improved the lives of Victorians and strengthened the communities they represent,” Mr Carroll said.

The announcement clears the way for Mr Carroll to appoint his first ministry, with a new Cabinet expected to be revealed on Monday as he begins reshaping the government following last week’s leadership spill.

The departures also remove two influential figures from Labor’s Left faction at a time when the government is attempting to present a renewed image before voters head to the polls later this year.

Lily D’Ambrosio leaves Parliament after a political career spanning almost a quarter of a century and a lengthy tenure as Victoria’s Energy Minister.

Widely regarded as one of the architects of the state’s renewable energy transition, she played a central role in developing Victoria’s emissions reduction policies, renewable energy investment programs and long-term climate strategy.

Mr Carroll described her as one of the defining figures behind Victoria’s response to climate change.

“Her leadership has made Victoria a national leader in renewable energy, driven ambitious emissions reduction targets and laid the foundations for a cleaner, more sustainable future,” he said.

He said the progress made toward Victoria’s climate goals would remain one of her enduring political legacies.

The Premier also praised D’Ambrosio’s style of leadership, noting she had spent much of her career focused on governing rather than seeking publicity.

“Lily has never sought the spotlight. Instead, as the longest serving Energy Minister in Australia she has focused on the hard work of governing – making decisions in the long-term interests of Victorians and always putting the community first,” he said.

Representing the electorate of Mill Park for 24 years, D’Ambrosio was credited with securing investment in schools, transport infrastructure, community facilities and local services while becoming one of Labor’s most experienced ministers.

Despite her close working relationship with previous Labor administrations, political sources have suggested D’Ambrosio had increasingly differed with Jacinta Allan over aspects of Victoria’s energy transition.

According to party sources, tensions occasionally emerged because Ms Allan was viewed as taking a more pragmatic approach to renewable energy policy than D’Ambrosio, who had long been regarded as one of the government’s strongest advocates for ambitious climate action.

Harriet Shing also departs after more than a decade in Parliament, having first entered the Legislative Council in 2014.

Throughout her ministerial career she managed several demanding portfolios, including housing, water, equality, regional development and, most recently, Health and Ambulance Services.

Mr Carroll praised her record across a wide range of policy areas.

“Throughout her time in Cabinet, Harriet has taken on some of the government’s most demanding portfolios and delivered lasting reforms,” he said.

He credited her with helping improve housing access, overseeing major transport and urban renewal projects, strengthening water security and supporting regional communities.

Shing also became one of the government’s most prominent advocates for equality reforms.

As Minister for Equality, she championed Victoria’s LGBTIQA+ communities and helped introduce legislation aimed at strengthening anti-vilification protections and promoting social cohesion.

More recently, as Health Minister, Shing oversaw significant health system reforms while managing ongoing pressures across Victoria’s hospitals and ambulance services.

One of her final major responsibilities was introducing legislation designed to strengthen nurse-to-patient ratios, a longstanding Labor policy that the government argues will improve patient care and workforce conditions.

Mr Carroll said the legislation reflected her commitment to strengthening Victoria’s public health system.

Labor insiders had previously speculated that Shing faced a difficult contest to retain her upper house seat at the November election, with some within the party believing retirement had become an increasingly likely option.

Her departure also marks the end of a significant political partnership, with Shing being the partner of former Daniel Andrews chief of staff Lissie Ratcliff.

The resignations come only days after Victoria experienced one of the most dramatic leadership changes in recent political history.

Jacinta Allan stepped aside as Premier after losing the support of enough Labor MPs for Ben Carroll to secure the leadership, ending Allan’s tenure less than a year before the state election.

Since becoming Premier, Mr Carroll has pledged to restore public confidence in the government while signalling a renewed focus on integrity, economic management, frontline services and delivering major reforms.

His first Cabinet announcement is expected to be closely watched for signs of how much influence each faction will retain and whether newer MPs will be elevated into senior portfolios.

The departures of D’Ambrosio and Shing create significant vacancies within the ministry and provide Mr Carroll with an opportunity to promote a new generation of ministers as Labor attempts to refresh its image after months of political instability.

While both women backed the losing side of the leadership contest, Mr Carroll’s public comments reflected an effort to avoid further internal division by recognising their contributions rather than criticising their support for his predecessor.

Political analysts say maintaining unity will be one of the Premier’s most immediate challenges as Labor prepares for a difficult election campaign, with opinion polls showing growing pressure from both the Coalition and minor parties.

The retirement of two experienced ministers also represents a significant loss of institutional knowledge within the government, particularly in complex policy areas such as energy, climate, health and equality reform.

For Victorian Labor, the resignations symbolise both the closing of an era associated with the Andrews-Allan governments and the beginning of a new phase under Ben Carroll’s leadership.

Attention will now turn to Monday’s Cabinet reshuffle, which is expected to provide the clearest indication yet of how the new Premier intends to shape his government for the months leading into November’s election.