Jacinta Allan has urged women not be turned off entering the cut-throat world of politics by her ousting as Victorian premier.
The 52-year-old announced her resignation in the state's top job on Tuesday after almost three years following an internal revolt ahead of the November election, with internal rival Ben Carroll taking her place.
There were moments when being the second woman to lead the state were hard and personal, but the chance to make a difference was worth it, Ms Allan told reporters.
"If you're a woman making your start in politics, let me say this to you today - please don't look at what I have experienced this week and think 'stuff that, I don't want to be involved'," she said.
"Look at the support I have experienced over my career and think 'I can make a difference here too'.
"And if you want to make a difference in politics, you need to get up and fight, and I am a fighter."
Ms Allan was the youngest female MP ever elected to the Victorian parliament in 1999 at just 25 and also grabbed the title of the state's youngest minister at 29.
She was appointed Daniel Andrews' successor when he retired in September 2023 after leading Labor to election victories in 2014, 2018 and 2022.
Ms Allan had been been slated to go head-to-head with Liberal leader Jess Wilson at the ballot box in four months.
Reflecting on her achievements as premier, Ms Allan became emotional as she spoke about reforms to women's health and her own personal experience.
"I'm a woman, I'm a mum. I have lived with endometriosis and I almost lost my daughter at birth," she said tearfully.
"These experiences not only defined who I am, they defined what I believe government should do for working women.
"For too long, women's pain was dismissed. I was one of those women. I was just a girl.
"If I want to be remembered for one thing, it's this - I led a government that listened to girls about their health."
Other accomplishment she cited were building major projects, removing level crossings, strengthening anti-hate laws, signing a treaty with Aboriginal Victorians, and overhauling planning laws to promote construction of housing.
However, her political legacy may be complicated by overseeing Victorian Labor's Big Build program as transport infrastructure minister from 2018 to 2023.
Widespread corruption allegations within Victoria's construction sector, including on government worksites, have been aired during the course of a Queensland inquiry and in media reporting.
Ms Allan previously said her government cracked down immediately when made aware of union misconduct allegations in mid-2024, but she refused to call a royal commission.
As the minister tasked with delivering the 2026 Commonwealth Games in regional Victoria, she was heavily criticised after the Andrews government paid a $380 million settlement to cancel the event.
