Luba Grigorovitch, recently appointed as a minister in the Victorian cabinet, has defended her past friendship with John Setka, the former leader of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU), who resigned amid scandal in 2024. Grigorovitch, who represents Kororoit, expressed no regrets about her relationship with Setka, stating, "I don’t just ditch my mates when things get tough," although she acknowledged she has not spoken to him in a long time. Her promotion comes after several ministers, including Mary-Anne Thomas and Danny Pearson, announced they would not seek re-election and stepped down from their cabinet roles. The opposition, led by Liberal MP James Newbury, criticized Grigorovitch's ties to Setka, questioning her suitability for the ministerial role. Premier Jacinta Allan defended the new ministers, dismissing the opposition's comments as petty. Grigorovitch's cabinet promotion is part of a broader reshuffle, with portfolios to be announced soon.