Carroll Wilson Faces Election: Who Runs Victoria’s Campaigns
Premier Ben Carroll and Opposition Leader Jess Wilson go into Victoria's November 28 election backed by party officials, ministers and staff lent from federal offices. A resurgent One Nation and a possible change of government have drawn national attention to the contest.
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll and Opposition Leader Jess Wilson face the state election on November 28, each backed by a campaign team of party officials, ministers and staff borrowed from federal offices.
A resurgent One Nation and a likely change of government have Australians watching closely. The result will set the tone for next year's New South Wales state election and the 2028 federal poll.
Labor's operation
Outside Carroll himself, the key figures include party secretary Steve Staikos, senior assistant secretary Jett Fogarty and junior assistant secretary Mikaela Sadkiewicz. Louise Magee is campaign chief of staff.
Bassel Tallal, the premier's former deputy chief of staff, directs the travelling party. He has final say on all music choices.
Carroll's wife, Fiona Rothville, features heavily in the campaign. Rebecca Harrison and Harry Adam oversee the media operation.
An inner circle of ministers advises the premier on key decisions. It includes Deputy Premier Gabrielle Williams, Treasurer Colin Brooks and Major Events Minister Anthony Carbines.
Labor staffers from across the country are also helping. Most Victorian federal ministers, such as Richard Marles and Catherine King, have staff assisting the state campaign.
The Coalition and One Nation
Wilson leads a close-knit team with chief of staff Byron Hodkinson and deputy chief of staff Lydia Paterson. Alyson Hannam is campaign director, with Paul Denham as deputy.
Former state director Simon Frost has been spotted at cafes near party headquarters. He was once a key adviser to former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg, whom Wilson previously worked for.
Liberal senator James Paterson, Lydia Paterson's husband, appears at every Liberal press conference. He was federal campaign spokesman in 2025 and shares advice with Wilson's team.
Kane Silom is on loan from federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor's office as director of communications. Alex Woff and Georgia Simpson assist him.
Wilson's brains trust includes Nationals leader Danny O'Brien and shadow ministers Evan Mulholland, David Southwick, James Newbury and Brad Rowswell.
One Nation leader Warren Pickering has Mark Jones, once a rising Liberal star, on campaign operations, along with state secretary Bianca Collechia. Pauline Hanson has recently been in Victoria to lift the party's media coverage, and chief strategist James Ashby is rarely far behind.
Richard Henderson, who handled media inquiries for Hanson's office, is managing campaign media. Staffer Harry Mulry plays a key role in the Pakenham-based campaign, where Pickering hopes to win a lower house seat.
The Victorian Greens are using their regular staff. A party spokeswoman said they have no campaign chief of staff.
Public service shake-up
A change of government would bring a dramatic shake-up of the Victorian public service. Some senior public servants have already decided to leave before the poll.
Department of Health secretary Jenny Atta announced last Thursday that she would step down. She has held the role since March 2025.
Atta told the board chairs and chief executives of the state's public hospitals in a letter that "this is the right time for me to step away".
