Former premier Daniel Andrews to be immortalised in new statue

A new statue is in the works to honour Daniel Andrews, but it has sparked anger among critics of the former premier.

• Readers have their say on Dan’s statue

Daniel Andrews will be immortalised in bronze, with the Allan government confirming a new statue is in the works.

The Herald Sun can reveal Mr Andrews will become a permanent fixture in Melbourne, with plans to honour the former premier with a sculpture under way – a year after he stood down from the job.

He will become the fifth Victorian premier bestowed with the honour, joining John Cain Jr, Rupert Hamer, Henry Bolte and Albert Dunstan, whose sculptures sit along Treasury Place.

But the decision has been met with criticism.

Frank Micallef, who lost both his parents, Charlie and Carmen, within 31 hours during Melbourne’s deadly second wave, said Mr Andrews did not deserve a statue.

He told the Herald Sun he felt the same way on Friday as he did three months ago when he learnt that Mr Andrews was to be awarded the nation’s highest King’s Birthday honour.

“Sick to my stomach,” he said.

“I’ll have to avoid the area, so I don’t have to look at him.

“I was hoping when he escaped from public life that I’d never see him again, so wherever they put (the statue) will be an area I give a wide berth.”

He added: “Hopefully the pigeons cotton on to it.”

Daniel Andrews will be immortalised in bronze. Picture: David Caird

But Mr Micallef said he felt this way about the statue not only because of how Mr Andrews handled the pandemic – but how he left Victoria’s economy.

“His lack of ability to control spending and the money that has been wasted is going to leave a legacy that’s probably going to last through most of our kids’ lives,” he said.

“In fact, spending money on a statue when the state is in such a dire position is head-scratching to me.”

Frank Micallef, who lost both his parents during Melbourne’s deadly second wave, says Mr Andrews did not deserve a statue. Picture: Wayne Taylor

The state government has refused to say if the Andrews statue will stand beside the others or be placed somewhere more or less prominent, or reveal how much it will cost taxpayers.

Leading sculptor Peter Corlett, who created the other four statues, has previously said the monuments can cost in excess of $100,000.

Mr Andrews became eligible for a statue in February last year, when he clocked his 3000th day as premier.

Former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett introduced a policy in the 1990s to recognise any premier who served for 3000 days.

Mark Knight’s take on Dan Andrews’ statue.

Mr Kennett never achieved the milestone.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday laughed off questions about whether he supported the plans to honour Mr Andrews with a statue, telling reporters to go ask Jeff Kennett.

“Well that’s a question for Jeff Kennett really,” he told the media in Melbourne.

“Someone who I only have one thing in common with, Jeff Kennett, which is we’re both Hawthorn supporters. We engage in very positive banter about the Hawks,” he said.

“Other than that we have nothing in common and I can confirm I was not a part of Jeff Kennett’s decision (to introduce) statues after 3000 days.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese laughed off questions about the statue on Friday. Picture: Martin Ollman

A Victorian government spokesman said planning to install the statue had begun, but added that it was still early days.

“The process of installing a statue of former premier Daniel Andrews, who served over 3000 days in office, is under way, and the Department of Premier and Cabinet has provided a brief to government initiating this,” she said.

Confirmation of the statue is tipped to spark a fierce public backlash, as Mr Andrews is regarded as the most divisive Victorian premier in memory, having forced Melbourne into the world’s longest lockdown during the Covid pandemic.

Opposition finance spokeswoman Jess Wilson slammed the government for committing taxpayer dollars to the controversial statue as Victorians battled the cost-of-living crunch.

“As Victoria buckles under a cost-of-living crisis, a failing health system and surging crime, Premier Allan’s priority is to erect a statue for Daniel Andrews instead of delivering relief for Victorian taxpayers,” she said.

Henry Bolte and Albert Dunstan’s sculptures sit along Treasury Place. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

But Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulous said criticism about the statue was misplaced, singling out Mr Kennett.

“Jeff Kennett needs to make up his mind,” he said.

“He made the rule 30 years ago … that if you qualify for 3000 days in that office, that’s the outcome.

“He’s now flipping and changing. He made the rules.”

Mr Dimopoulous said Victorians had voted for Andrews at three successive elections, and the statue was deserved.

“The beauty about this whole system, it’s based on democracy,” he said.

“Victorians decide who gets elected and how long they stay elected.”

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulous says criticism about the statue is misplaced. Picture: AAP

Mr Andrews repeatedly shut down talk of a statue while he was still premier, saying that would be an issue for his successor.

“That is a milestone that was dreamt up by former premier Kennett,” he said.

“From my point of view, there’s no magic to that day.”

The state government has faced pressure to reconsider the memorial, with calls to recognise a leading female Victorian instead.

Mr Andrews was awarded the nation’s highest honour in June – the Companion of the Order of Australia – as part of this year’s King’s Birthday Honours.

Families of pandemic victims – 768 of whom died following the Andrews government’s botched hotel quarantine program and bungled contact tracing – slammed the award at the time.

A ministerial briefing note, released under Freedom of Information laws, revealed Ms Allan considered the Andrews statue in her first months as Premier.

Corlett has previously said inspirations for the sculpture could include Mr Andrews’ two fists in the air pose when he won the 2022 election, which he described as “a rare showing of emotion”, while some have suggested it should feature his North Face jacket, worn to many of his pandemic conferences.