Incumbent Rob Hulls yesterday announced his retirement, sparking a flurry of speculation about potential successors.

But Ms Allan, who last weekend married her long-term partner Yorick Piper, said the birth of her first child was at the forefront of her mind ahead of political aspirations.

“The (deputy leadership) is a matter for the party,” she said.

“News only broke this morning but I am unlikely (to nominate) for a whole range of reasons, namely the birth of my first child later this year.”

Ms Allan, a senior Labor figure and the party’s rural and regional development and bushfire response spokeswoman, is due to give birth in April.

She will take maternity leave and return to her duties during the second half of this year.

Mr Hulls was a former deputy premier and attorney general.

He has been Victorian Labor’s deputy leader since the former government lost its hold on power at the 2010 state election.

Mr Hulls’ retirement comes after an illness left him in an induced coma last year.

Ms Allan said Mr Hulls would leave behind a legacy of reform and strong leadership.

She said he had been key in helping politicians readjust to life on the opposition benches.

“He leaves behind a very powerful record of an attorney general that was very focused on delivering reform within the legal system,” Ms Allan said.

“As shadow spokesman for education during the last

14 months, he made the transition from government to opposition

and he has exposed the way cuts to the education budget are

really harmful to people in the regions.”

Ms Allan paid tribute to Mr Hulls’ family, who had endured his almost 20 years in politics – both state and federal.

Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards also paid tribute to Mr Hulls.

She said he had been a mentor to her when she entered the parliament after the last election.

“I will miss him in the parliament,” Ms Edwards said.

“Rob has assisted me a lot over the last 12 months.

“He is a real character.”