‘Won’t get a beer or parma here’: Publican bans former premier Dan Andrews as video goes viral

A Bundalong pub owner has become a local hero amid claims he booted Daniel Andrews out of his hotel when he visited recently, but the former premier insists he’s never set foot in the place.

The man who told Victorians to “get on the beers” as the state emerged from yet another Covid lockdown will find it hard to have a frothie at one Murray River pub.

A video claiming Dan Andrews had been sent packing from the Bundalong Tavern has circulated, with claims also made that he had bought a block of land in the area and been black-banned by local tradies.

Those claims are believed by many locals, builders and real estate agents — contacted by the Herald Sun on Friday — with rumours rife about where Mr Andrews proposed to build a house on the Murray River waterfront.

Bundalong Tavern publican Brett Butler told the Herald Sun that Mr Andrews had recently visited his pub “and I told him to leave, there was no ask”.

Bundalong Tavern owner Brett Butler insists he told Dan Andrews to leave this pub. Picture: Supplied

But a spokesman for the former premier said Mr Andrews had “never visited the pub”, to which Mr Butler responded: “Well he must have a twin.”

Mr Andrews’ spokesperson also said the former premier did not own property in Bundalong.

Property searches by the Herald Sun for Mr Andrews and his wife come up blank in terms of any Bundalong holdings held in their names, although legal structures such as trusts allow ownership to be concealed.

A long-time pub and local accommodation owner, and high-profile member of the Bundalong community, Mr Butler said Mr Andrews would do well to stay away from the town, where he was extremely unpopular.

Bundalong and Yarrawonga tradies and business people spoken to by the Herald Sun strongly supported that view.

“He won’t get a cold beer or parma here,” Mr Butler said.

“He’s not welcome. I’m standing up for every small business in Victoria and I’d call on all of them to ban Dan.”

But Mr Andrews says he has never been to the Bundalong Tavern. Picture: Tony Gough

He added that Bundalong, on the Murray River east of Yarrawonga, would be a “thorn in the side” of Mr Andrews if he ever tried to settle in the rural area, because of his harsh Covid lockdowns.

Mr Andrews grew up, and went to school, in nearby Wangaratta.

In a video posted to social media Adam Scholte claimed Mr Andrews was told to leave the Bundalong Tavern and “people inside (the pub) were saying you may as well leave the whole town as well”.

The Bundalong Tavern, where claims have been made that Dan Andrews was shown the door.

Adam Scholte made several other claims about Dan Andrews in Bundalong, in a viral video.

The picturesque Murray River town of Bundalong is popular with tourists, with the tavern on the Murray Valley Highway spruiking its meals, drinks, accommodation and ambience.

“Enjoy a fantastic meal with your family, a casual drink with friends, a weekend away staying in our luxurious accommodation, or somewhere to party until late,” it says on its website.

The pub is the home of the Bundy Burger Challenge, which it warns is “not for the faint hearted or small stomached”, with a massive 3.5kg burger to be eaten in 30 minutes in order to win.

It also has a parma night, at which Mr Andrews is definitely not welcome.

Originally published as ‘Won’t get a beer or parma here’: Publican bans former premier Dan Andrews as video goes viral