Daniel Andrews Statue Project Abandoned by New Premier

The proposed bronze statue honoring Daniel Andrews, who served as Victoria's premier from 2014 to 2023, has been officially scrapped by his successor Ben Carroll. This decision marks a significant shift in the state's approach to commemorating its leaders.

Carroll, elected as state Labor leader in July, announced the cancellation while commissioning an independent panel to reassess how Victoria recognizes its former leaders. The state will no longer pursue the statue, which was intended to celebrate Andrews’ nine years in office, a tenure that exceeded 3,000 days.

The idea for the statue had been a topic of political contention since Andrews reached that milestone three years ago. Opposition Leader Jess Wilson had previously vowed to eliminate the statue project if the Coalition won the upcoming state election on November 28.

While Carroll did not specifically name Andrews in his statement, he emphasized the importance of prudent government spending. “I respect your money,” he stated, advocating for careful deliberation regarding state expenditures. The existing contract for the statue will not be canceled to avoid unnecessary costs to taxpayers. Instead, the independent panel is tasked with proposing an alternative subject and location for the commissioned work.

The tradition of erecting statues for long-serving premiers was initiated by former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett in the late 1990s, resulting in several statues at Melbourne's Treasury Place. Notably, the statue of John Cain, Victoria’s first female premier Joan Kirner, has also been a point of discussion in the ongoing dialogue around historical recognition.

Source: www.abc.net.au