A taxpayer-funded statue honouring former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has become the latest political flashpoint in Victoria, with a new opinion poll suggesting a large majority of voters want the project abandoned as the state grapples with record debt and ongoing cost-of-living pressures.
The controversy comes as Premier Ben Carroll attempts to distinguish his leadership from previous Labor administrations while simultaneously confronting growing pressure over government spending priorities ahead of November’s state election.
A Freshwater Strategy poll of Victorian voters found that 74 per cent want the proposed $134,000 statue cancelled, while only a small minority support proceeding with the monument. The survey also suggested opposition extended across political lines, with more than half of Labor voters reportedly favouring cancellation.
The monument was commissioned during the premiership of Jacinta Allan under a long-standing Victorian policy introduced during the Jeff Kennett government. Under that policy, premiers who serve more than 3,000 days in office become eligible for a bronze statue near Treasury Place alongside other long-serving Victorian leaders.
Daniel Andrews served as premier for 3,219 days, making him Victoria’s longest-serving Labor premier and satisfying the policy’s eligibility requirements. The commission for the statue was awarded to Meridian Sculpture following the state’s procurement process.
Although the project complies with the existing policy, it has become increasingly controversial as Victoria faces significant fiscal pressures.
The state carries Australia’s largest projected state debt, and the Carroll Government has pledged to restrain spending while reviewing major projects and government priorities.
Critics argue that, regardless of the relatively modest cost in the context of the overall state budget, taxpayer funding should instead be directed towards frontline services such as hospitals, policing, transport and education.
The issue has become symbolically important because it touches on broader concerns about government spending during a period when many Victorians continue to face higher mortgage repayments, rents and everyday living costs.
Premier Ben Carroll has so far stopped short of confirming whether the project will proceed.
Since replacing Jacinta Allan, Carroll has repeatedly described the statue as “not a priority” for his government but has avoided committing to cancelling the existing contract.
His cautious approach reflects the difficult political position he faces. Cancelling the project could demonstrate a willingness to break from previous Labor governments, while proceeding with it risks further criticism over government spending.
The Victorian Opposition has sought to capitalise on the issue.
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has pledged that a Coalition government would scrap the statue if elected in November, arguing that Victoria needs a fresh start rather than symbolic projects honouring former political leaders.
Shadow Attorney-General James Newbury has likewise called on the government to abandon the proposal, saying taxpayers expect public money to be directed towards more pressing priorities.
Former premier Jeff Kennett, whose government introduced the policy recognising long-serving premiers with statues, has also criticised the Andrews monument despite creating the original framework.
Kennett has argued that if cancelling the contract is no longer practical, alternative options should be explored rather than proceeding with installation. His intervention has added another layer to the political debate because the policy itself originated under a Liberal government.
Supporters of the project present a different view.
They argue the statue is not intended as an endorsement of every decision made during Andrews’ premiership but rather recognition that he met an objective criterion established years earlier for Victoria’s longest-serving premiers.
They also note that previous premiers who qualified under the same policy have received statues regardless of differing public opinions about their governments.
Some commentators have suggested changing the rule only after Andrews became eligible could itself create accusations of inconsistency or political selectivity.
The debate arrives at a politically sensitive moment for Victorian Labor.
Carroll has promised a “big reset” following years of controversy surrounding the Andrews and Allan governments, including commitments to improve cabinet processes, rebuild relationships with business and restore confidence in government decision-making.
Whether the statue proceeds has therefore become a broader test of how willing the new premier is to distance himself from the previous era while balancing existing contractual commitments and government policy.
Although the financial value of the monument represents only a tiny fraction of Victoria’s overall budget, political analysts say the symbolism has made it far more significant than its price tag.
For critics, the proposal reflects misplaced priorities during a period of economic pressure.
For supporters, it represents the consistent application of an established policy recognising long-serving premiers irrespective of political popularity.
With the state election approaching, the debate over the Daniel Andrews statue is likely to remain part of the wider conversation about public spending, government accountability and the direction of Victorian Labor under Ben Carroll’s leadership.
