The Victorian government will spend a portion of taxpayer funds to immortalize controversial former premier Daniel Andrews in a bronze statue.
Plans to make Andrews the fifth prime minister to receive a permanent statue in Melbourne were revealed on Thursday on the anniversary of his resignation.
Bronze statues of state premiers who spent more than 3,000 days in office are immortalized outside government offices near Treasury Gardens in central Melbourne, under a rule introduced by former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett.
There are already effigies of four long-serving leaders outside the Melbourne State Government Office.
Andrews would join John Cain (1982-1990), Rupert Hamer (1972-1981), Henry Bolte (1955-1972) and Albert Dunstan (1935-1945) in reproducing his image at 1 Treasury Place.
The process of installing one from Mr Andrews is underway, however it is unclear how much it will cost or its possible location.
A government spokesperson confirmed that the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet provided a report to the government about the statue, but did not reveal any further information.
The artist behind the four previous statues, Peter Corlett, has estimated the average cost of the pieces at about $100,000.
However, opposition finance spokesman Jess Wilson responded to the decision to immortalize Andrews in a statue.
Andrews’ face is superimposed on a statue of his Labor predecessor, John Cain. Daily Mail Australia does not suggest the statue looks like the previous one.
Victorian prime ministers are entitled to be commemorated in bronze once they spend 3,000 days in office, a milestone Andrews reached.
“As Victoria sinks under a cost of living crisis, poor health system and rising crime, Premier Allan’s priority is erecting a statue for Daniel Andrews rather than providing relief to Victorian taxpayers,” he said .
A divisive leader, he earned the unwavering loyalty and admiration of some and the derision of others during his nine years in office.
He won three consecutive state elections and rose to national prominence when he oversaw one of the world’s longest lockdowns in the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the end of his term, Andrews canceled the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which were due to be held in regional Victoria, saying expected costs had almost doubled to at least $6 billion.
More than 300 people have already signed a petition calling for current Prime Minister Jacinta Allan to cancel plans for the statue.
“The proposal to honor Daniel Andrews with a statue is a deeply troubling decision,” the petition said.
The statue of Mr Andrews will join others of John Cain Jr, Rupert Hamer, Henry Bolte (left) and Albert Dunstan (right) commemorated along Treasury Place and costing around $100,000.
‘As the former premier of Victoria, Andrews left a legacy marred by scandals, authoritarian politics, a broken public health system and human rights abuses.
“Andrews’ leadership experienced some of the most restrictive lockdowns globally, causing widespread economic and social devastation.”