Victoria
Plans for Daniel Andrews statue in Melbourne scrapped
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has cancelled the planned statue of his predecessor Daniel Andrews outside Melbourne's Treasury Place.
Plans to erect a statue of former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews outside Melbourne's Treasury Place have been cancelled, according to wire reports.
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has scrapped the proposal to immortalise his predecessor in bronze, halting a project that would have seen Mr Andrews join other long-serving leaders of the state.
Under Victoria's traditional practice, premiers who serve more than 3,000 days in office are honoured with a statue. Mr Andrews, who led the state for nine years before resigning in late 2023, met this milestone. However, the decision by Mr Carroll marks a departure from this long-standing convention.
Details remain limited regarding the specific reasons behind the cancellation. It is currently unclear whether the decision was driven by financial considerations, public feedback, or other political factors. The government has not yet released a detailed breakdown of any costs already incurred during the initial planning stages of the project.
Critics and supporters alike had previously debated the appropriateness of the statue, given the polarising nature of the former premier's tenure. Without official confirmation on the alternative plans for the Treasury Place site, the space will remain as it is for the foreseeable future.
The government has not confirmed whether the tradition of honouring eligible premiers with statues will be permanently abandoned, or if this cancellation is a one-off decision.
Observers will be watching to see how the Victorian community and political figures react to the abandonment of the project.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
Dedicated to a Stronger Victoria.
A message from the editor, August
Every story here is free to read. Only readers keep it that way.
We take no government money, run no paywall, and answer to nobody in Spring Street. That independence is paid for by a small number of readers, not the many who benefit from it. If just one in a hundred of today's readers gave $8 a month, our Victorian politics coverage would be funded for the year.
- Funds reporting, not shareholders
- Cancel in one click, anytime
- Supporter badge and reply access
Prefer a one-off? Send a tip. It takes about twenty seconds.