Victoria government cancels statue for former premier Daniel Andrews

The Carroll government in Victoria has cancelled controversial plans for a statue of former Labor premier Daniel Andrews.

Work began in May on the statue commemorating the former premier’s more than 3,000 days in office, as part of a 1999 policy recognising long-serving Victorian premiers.

But the premier, Ben Carroll, announced an end to the Kennett government policy on Saturday, appointing an independent panel to review how Victoria commemorates officials with statues and state services.

He directed work on the Andrews statue to cease.

“We are grateful to former premiers for their service. But gratitude does not require a taxpayer-funded statue,” Carroll said.

“I respect your money. That means being careful and deliberate about how government spends it.”

The policy automatically recognising long-serving Victorian premiers with a statue on Treasury Place was introduced ahead of the 1999 state election by then-premier Jeff Kennett. Kennett himself fell short of the milestone.

The “independent and bipartisan” panel will make recommendations about the future state funerals and memorial services. The statue contract will not be cancelled, instead the panel will select an alternative subject and location for the commissioned work.

The $134,000 cost of the planned statue of Andrews has been heavily criticised by the Liberal opposition.

“If we come to government we will not allow that statue to proceed,” the opposition leader, Jess Wilson, said on 30 July.

“Victorians are fed up with Labor’s waste – that’s why it’s time for a Government that treats your money with respect,” she wrote in a social media post.

Andrews was premier of Victoria from 4 December 2014 to 27 September 2023. While the former premier was yet to comment on the decision to axe his effigy, in 2023 he claimed there was “no magic” to the 3,000 day milestone.

“People who spend a lot of time talking about legacy usually spend not enough time actually building one,” he said at the time.

In May, the state government confirmed Meridian Sculpture, the company that created the statues of the other four Victorian premiers who reached the milestone, was selected after a standard procurement process.

At the time, a Victorian government spokesperson said: “Daniel Andrews led Victoria through some of its toughest moments and never stopped fighting for working people. Under a policy introduced by the Kennett government, Victorian premiers who serve more than 3,000 days in office are recognised with a statue along Treasury Place in honour of their service to the state.”

Four former Victorian premiers have been commemorated in bronze at Treasury Gardens, they include Sir Albert Dunstan, Sir Henry Bolte, Sir Rupert Hamer and John Cain junior. Sir James McCulloch, who served more than 3000 days over non-consecutive terms has not been recognised with a statue.