In short:
Plans for a taxpayer-funded bronze statue of former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews are sparking backlash across Victoria, with critics pointing to the divisive legacy of lockdowns, mandates, rising debt and other controversies during his time in office.
Wyndham Advertiser
A plan to erect a bronze statue of former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews in Melbourne’s Treasury Square is already sparking backlash, with critics arguing taxpayers should not be paying to honour one of the state’s most controversial political figures.
The Allan Labor Government has confirmed the statue is expected to cost more than $134,000 to design and construct under a long-standing Victorian policy introduced by former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett, which grants statues to premiers who served more than 3,000 days in office.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan defended the decision, describing Andrews as a “fantastic premier”.
“We’re just following the policy put in place by the previous premier, Jeff Kennett.”
However, many Victorians remain sharply divided over Andrews’ legacy as premier from 2014 to 2023, particularly following his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supporters point to Andrews overseeing major infrastructure projects including the Metro Tunnel, level crossing removals and the West Gate Tunnel, while leading Victoria through the pandemic.
Mixed Legacy Left Behind
But critics argue his tenure was also defined by some of the harshest pandemic restrictions in the world, including Melbourne’s lengthy lockdowns, curfews, vaccine mandates and widespread business shutdowns.
The Andrews Government also faced sustained scrutiny over the hotel quarantine program, which became linked to Victoria’s deadly second COVID-19 wave in 2020.
Civil liberties concerns remain another major criticism, with opponents arguing the government accumulated excessive powers during the pandemic period.
Outside COVID-19, Andrews’ government attracted controversy over rising state debt, transparency concerns, integrity issues and the cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
For many opponents, the proposed statue is less about recognising political history and more about whether taxpayers should fund a monument to such a polarising leader during an ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
The debate highlights how divisive Andrews’ political legacy remains across Victoria, years after dominating the state’s political landscape.
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