Victoria's new premier, Ben Carroll, has cancelled plans for a $134,000 bronze statue of former premier Daniel Andrews, stating the project did not align with current community expectations and government spending priorities. The decision reverses a policy that automatically commissioned monuments for premiers serving more than 3,000 days in office.
Carroll, who took office following Andrews' resignation in September 2023, announced the cancellation on Saturday, emphasizing fiscal prudence. "I respect your money. That means being careful and deliberate about how government spends it," Carroll said in a statement. "We are grateful to former premiers for their service. But gratitude does not require a taxpayer-funded statue."
The proposed statue, intended for Treasury Place in Melbourne's CBD, was estimated to cost $134,000. This move aligns with public sentiment, as a poll published by the Herald Sun indicated that 74 percent of Victorians opposed the statue, with only 19 percent in favor.
Daniel Andrews served as premier for nine years, leading the Labor party to three consecutive state election victories. His tenure included overseeing extended COVID-19 lockdown measures. Recently, his government was the subject of an Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) probe, Operation Richmond, which examined allegations of corruption concerning dealings with the Victorian firefighters' union. While the report did not find corrupt behavior by Andrews himself, it noted "serious and concerning conduct" by him and other senior government officials.
Premier Carroll also announced a review into the state's protocols for honouring prominent Victorians through state funerals and memorial services, with an independent panel tasked to recommend guidelines on scale and costs.