A factional ally has been handed the reins of health as Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan swings a major cabinet reshuffle seven months out from polling day.

Allan’s new ministry was sworn-in at Government House on Wednesday morning.

She picked Harriet Shing to become health minister, replacing Mary-Anne Thomas as she and three other veterans bow out of politics at the November state election.

Shing will also pick up ambulance services and return to her previous role as water minister.

She is the first upper house MP to hold Victoria’s health portfolio since Jenny Mikakos, who resigned in 2020 following former premier Daniel Andrews’ testimony to the hotel quarantine inquiry.

The 49-year-old was the first openly lesbian member of Victorian parliament and has been in cabinet for almost four years, serving as housing and building minister in recent times.

Health was a major political battleground at the 2022 Victorian election following the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is expected to be a focus of the 2026 campaign, with public health systems across the nation continuing to face pressure.

In other major moves, Attorney-General and Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny will add finance and violence reduction to her responsibilities despite previous opposition criticism over her workload.

Nick Staikos will replace Shing as the minister for housing and the Suburban Rail Loop.

Women and girls will also be added to the roles of Transport Infrastructure and Public Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams, and Police Minister Anthony Carbines will replace Thomas as the government’s lower house leader.

Kororoit MP Luba Grigorovitch, Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke, Eureka MP Michaela Settle and Box Hill MP Paul Hame were all sworn as ministers for the first time.

Edbrook was handed consumer affairs, renters, cost of living and the new portfolio of men and boys.

Settle will tackle agriculture and regional development, Hamer debuts in local government, youth justice and corrections and Grigorovitch gets youth, carers and volunteers.

“This is a new team, with new energy and new solutions,” Allan said.

–AAP