Gayle Tierney will be the new Victorian water minister, Premier Jacinta Allan announced following a cabinet reshuffle.
Former water minister Harriet Shing will take on the controversial suburban rail loop, the state’s biggest transport project, as well as the housing and building portfolios.
Ms Tierney was elected to represent Western Victoria in 2006.
Before entering parliament, she was the first female state secretary of the Vehicle Division of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (previously the Vehicle Builders Union), and also the federal president. During this period, she was also an executive member of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.
She studied Politics and Asian Studies at Flinders University.
Former Attorney-General and State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes will become the state’s first female treasurer.