Premier Ben Carroll Cancels Daniel Andrews Statue Project

Victorian Premier Ben Carroll cancelled plans for a taxpayer-funded statue of former Labor premier Daniel Andrews on Saturday. The project was part of a 1999 policy established by the Jeff Kennett government to commemorate premiers who served more than 3,000 days in office. Carroll ended the policy entirely, stating that gratitude for service does not require a statue and emphasizing the need for deliberate government spending.

The planned $134,000 expenditure had drawn criticism from Liberal opposition leader Jess Wilson, who cited the project as an example of government waste. While work on the Andrews statue has ceased, the state government maintains its existing contract with Meridian Sculpture. An independent, bipartisan panel will now select an alternative subject and location for the commissioned work.