Victoria Premier Ben Carroll has acknowledged uncertainty surrounding the status and financial details of a statue commissioned to honor former premier Dan Andrews, despite earlier announcing its cancellation. Carroll revealed on Saturday that work on the taxpayer-funded statue would be halted, signaling a shift in government policy against automatically erecting monuments to former premiers.
When questioned on Sunday about the statue’s progress and expenses, Carroll said he was unaware of how far along the project was or the amount already spent. Conflicting reports have emerged: some sources claim the statue was nearly complete and would not be dismantled, while others maintain that construction was still in early stages, with bronze casting not scheduled until the end of the year.
It is understood that more than 60 percent of the contract’s value with the statue maker remains unfulfilled. Carroll indicated this remaining budget will likely be redirected to a new project to be selected by an independent bipartisan panel. However, the panel will be prohibited from recommending statues commemorating elected officials, reflecting a new government policy banning publicly funded statues of politicians.
Carroll attributed the statue’s commissioning to his predecessor and distanced his administration from the decision, stressing that the government would no longer fund statues honoring former premiers. “I made it very clear, under my premiership – and a new direction – that our gratitude for former premiers and leaders does not extend to paying for a taxpayer-funded statue,” he said.
The Premier’s office confirmed that while the original contract would be honored, the subject and location of the statue would be reconsidered through the newly established panel. Carroll declined to provide specific details on potential additional costs related to halting construction and commissioning a replacement statue, but acknowledged the government would fulfill contractual obligations for an alternative subject.
The cancellation represents a departure from a long-standing tradition initiated by former premier Jeff Kennett, who established the practice of honoring premiers who served at least 3,000 days with statues on Treasury Place. Andrews was slated to become the fifth premier commemorated in this manner, joining John Cain Jr, Rupert Hamer, Henry Bolte, and Albert Dunstan.
Carroll described the practice as inconsistent with contemporary views on government spending and pledged to shift the focus of public monuments to institutions such as schools and hospitals. Andrews served as premier of Victoria from 2014 until his resignation in September 2023. His leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, including enforcement of one of the longest lockdowns globally, sparked controversy and calls to forgo a permanent memorial.