"The timing of the announcement indicated the government knew it would be unpopular."
Victoria to Spend $134,304 on Statue of Former Premier Daniel Andrews
The Victorian government has confirmed it will spend $134,304 to build a statue of former premier Daniel Andrews. The project follows a policy introduced by the Kennett government that honors premiers who have served more than 3,000 days in office.
Fitzroy-based firm Meridian Sculpture—which has created statues of previous premiers including Henry Bolte and Albert Dunstan—was selected for the project. Installation details have not yet been announced.
Daniel Andrews served as premier from 2014 to 2023, leading Labor to three consecutive election victories. He is the longest-serving Labor premier in Victoria's history and the fourth-longest-serving premier overall.
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson criticized the expenditure, stating that the timing of the announcement indicated the government knew it would be unpopular amid a cost-of-living crisis.
Premier Jacinta Allan defended the decision, noting that the government is following a policy established by former premier Jeff Kennett.