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 ۳,۰۰۰ days in office, as part of a ۱۹۹۹ 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 ۱۹۹۹ 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 $۱۳۴,۰۰۰ 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 ۳۰ 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 ۴ December ۲۰۱۴ to ۲۷ September ۲۰۲۳.
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 ۳,۰۰۰ days in office are recognised with a statue along Treasury Place in honour of their service to the state.”
