In 2005, Pallas challenged incumbent backbencher Mary Gillett for preselection in the safe seat of Tarneit, and with Bracks' backing, was successful.

In 2010, Pallas called Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton a "dickhead" while launching a road safety initiative.

Hamilton had been caught by police engaging in an act of 'hoon driving' in a $160,000 Mercedes on the previous Friday night.

[3] When he was Minister for Roads and Ports, he implemented a number of measures to improve traffic flow on the major Victorian freeways including the Monash CityLink West Gate Upgrade.

In February 2010, he launched a $5 million study into traffic flow along Hoddle Street between CityLink and the Eastern Freeway.