<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/jacinta-allan" rel="" target="" title="Jacinta Allan"><span>Jacinta Allan</span></a><span> has quashed speculation she will face a leadership challenge, dismissing the rumours as "anonymous speculation".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>With the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/victoria-election" rel="" target="_blank" title="state election"><span>state election</span></a><span> coming later this year, </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/labor-party" rel="" target="_blank" title="Labor"><span>Labor</span></a><span> sits behind the Liberal Party in the </span><a href="https://theconversation.com/two-victorian-polls-have-one-nation-at-23-24-but-differ-on-which-party-is-in-the-lead-277331" rel="" target="_blank" title="polls"><span>polls</span></a><span> and is also being trailed closely by One Nation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Media reports have suggested a plan to oust Allan as Labor leader and Premier could be in the making.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/cheese-pulled-from-shelves-at-coles-iga-over-undeclared-allergen/e2b9331d-dda4-48b1-973c-a96713354c6b" target="_blank"><strong><span>Cheese pulled from shelves at Coles, IGA over undeclared allergen</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, Allan denied the rumours, insisting she had the support of the party room and questioning the source of the rumours.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are a strong team, we are a united team," she said this morning.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is anonymous gossip, it's from a few scallywags."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/jacinta-allan-dismisses-leadership-speculation-as-victoria-premier-labor-leader/1251a20e-feb3-4f72-8a4a-7bd147c295d9" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-update-australia-and-dozens-of-others-condemn-iran-over-attacks-on-neighbours-critical-shipping-closure/5440f1eb-2a2a-431c-bb18-55e90e1dea19" target="_blank"><strong><span>Australia and dozens of others condemn Iran over attacks on neighbours, critical shipping closure</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Despite this, she also sent a pointed message, saying such concerns and rumours would not help Labor's campaign.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Now is not the time for cuts and division, now is the time to be focused," she added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>No one has officially been labelled as wanting to lead the charge of a leadership change at such a crucial moment, with Labor MPs entering parliament today and posing a united front, backing Allan's leadership.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-march-19-donald-trump-officials-should-must-make-his-decisions-as-successful-as-possible-jd-vance-says-irans-new-supreme-leader-issues-a-rare-statement/db9709f9-041a-4e5d-a484-cec456ce469d" target="_blank"><strong><span>Iran pledges to hit back over gas field attack</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Gabrielle Williams, the Transport Minister from the left faction, and Ben Carroll, the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education from the right faction, both dismissed such speculation when quizzed by media this morning.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's idle gossip… I pay no attention to it," Williams said at a press conference this morning.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Carroll was stopped in the halls of Parliament House, where he delivered a similar response.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"No, I want to be the education minister," he replied when asked if he wanted to be Premier.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></strong></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>