Reader comments on Daniel Andrew’s statue confirmation

Plans to honour former premier Daniel Andrews with a statue has sparked fierce public backlash, with some Victorians calling the decision “a slap in the face”. Here’s what readers had to say.

Plans to honour former premier Daniel Andrews with a statue has sparked fierce public backlash. Picture: Getty

Plans to honour former premier Daniel Andrews with a statue has sparked fierce public backlash, with some Victorians calling the decision “a slap in the face”.

The Herald Sun revealed on Friday morning Mr Andrews will become a permanent fixture in Melbourne, with plans to honour the former premier with a bronze sculpture under way.

Mr Andrews – who stood down from the job a year ago – is regarded as the most divisive Victorian premier in memory, having forced Melbourne into the world’s longest lockdown during the Covid pandemic.

The overwhelming majority (95 per cent) of Herald Sun readers voted “no” to Mr Andrews receiving a statue, with only five per cent in support of the sculpture.

The poll had just under 3000 votes as of 10am on Friday.

Mr Andrews – who stood down from the job a year ago – is regarded as the most divisive Victorian premier in memory. Picture: Valeriu Campan

— “What an absolute insult to all Victorians.”

— “A slap in the face to all Victorians who went through the longest lockdown in the world and who now have a state in decay and broke!”

— “As if we haven’t been through enough, this so-called memorial will be a permanent reminder of the irreparable damage this person has done to the state finances, reputation, healthcare, emergency services and small businesses.”

— “Just keeps triggering bad thoughts for Victorians, it’s wrong for so many reasons and all those families that lost loved ones through a catastrophic bungling of Covid.”

Other readers argued the money spent on building the statue should go towards education, health and infrastructure instead.

— “What a waste of money! Surely the funds could be directed to our hospitals or schools.”

— “So many potholes on Victorian roads can some be fixed with that funding?”

Statues of previous premiers John Cain Jr, Henry Bolte and Albert Dunstan. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The overwhelming majority of Herald Sun readers voted “no” to Mr Andrews receiving a statue. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Others were quick to point out the sculpture would likely be targeted by vandals.

— “What are they going to do, have a ring of steel around it to protect it. Either way, it won’t last long.”

— “Geez they reckon Captain Cook statues get vandalised. They ain’t seen nothing yet!”

— “The sculptor will have a full time job making new ones every week.

”

But some readers were quick to defend Mr Andrews saying he was “deserving” of a statue.

“Dan did a wonderful job, saved plenty of life’s during Covid and deserves a statue/thanks.”

The statue of Captain Cook in St Kilda was cut down by vandals in January this year. Picture: David Crosling

Mr Andrews 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.

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

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

The government has refused to confirm how much the statue will cost taxpayers but leading sculptor Peter Corlett, who created the other four statues, has previously said the monuments can cost in excess of $100,000.