Victorian government scraps controversial Daniel Andrews statue amid cost criticism

The Victorian government has officially scrapped plans for a statue of former Labor premier Daniel Andrews, following criticism over its $134,000 cost.

Premier Ben Carroll announced on Saturday that work on the statue, which had begun in May, would cease. The decision marks the end of a 1999 policy introduced by former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett, which automatically commemorated long-serving Victorian premiers with a statue on Treasury Place.

Carroll stated that while the government is grateful for the service of former premiers, public funds should not be used for statues. "Gratitude does not require a taxpayer-funded statue," he said. "I respect your money. That means being careful and deliberate about how government spends it."

Instead of completing the Andrews statue, Carroll appointed an independent, bipartisan panel to review how Victoria commemorates officials through statues, state funerals, and memorial services. The panel will also decide on an alternative subject and location for the commissioned artwork, which will not be cancelled.

The decision has drawn criticism from the Liberal opposition, which has vowed to block the statue if it returns to power. Opposition leader Jess Wilson stated on July 30 that Victorians are "fed up with Labor’s waste" and that a future Liberal government would not allow the statue to proceed. She reiterated this stance in a social media post.

Daniel Andrews served as Victorian premier from December 4, 2014, to September 27, 2023. While he has not publicly commented on the cancellation, in 2023 he dismissed the significance of the 3,000-day milestone, stating, "People who spend a lot of time talking about legacy usually spend not enough time actually building one."

The state government had previously confirmed that Meridian Sculpture, the company responsible for statues of the other four premiers who met the 3,000-day threshold, was selected through a standard procurement process. At the time, a government spokesperson said, "Daniel Andrews led Victoria through some of its toughest moments and never stopped fighting for working people."

Four former premiers—Sir Albert Dunstan, Sir Henry Bolte, Sir Rupert Hamer, and John Cain Jr.—are commemorated in bronze at Treasury Gardens. Sir James McCulloch, who served more than 3,000 days in non-consecutive terms, has not been honored with a statue.