Plug pulled on plans for $134K statue of former Victorian premier Dan Andrews

Victoria’s new premier has dealt a cruel blow to one of his longest serving predecessors – pulling the plug on plans to immortalise him in bronze.

Ben Carroll has confirmed that a $134,000 project to build a statue of Dan Andrews, who was Victorian premier for 3219 days, has been taken off the table.

Mr Carroll said an independent review would be held into how the state commemorates long-serving officials – and what is spent on doing so.

The new premier, who succeeded Jacinta Allan last month, has announced a crackdown on the amount being spent to honour long serving officials – also vowing to stamp out the state’s automatic statue policy.

Currently, any premier that serves longer than 3,000 days in office is entitled to have a statue built in their honour.

But Mr Carroll has called for an halt to this policy, arguing it “is no longer consistent with community expectations about how governments should spend money”.

“I respect your money. That means, being careful and deliberate about how government spends it,” Mr Carroll said.

“We are grateful to former premiers for their service, but gratitude does not require a taxpayer-funded statue.”

The review may also put state funerals into doubt, with the premier’s office seeking recommendations on what circumstances should warrant them.

“State funerals are special and moving tributes – part of what makes them special is their rarity,” Mr Carroll added.

Originally published as Plug pulled on plans for $134K statue of former Victorian premier Dan Andrews