‘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 tavern 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 was sent packing from the Bundalong Tavern, and that he had bought a block of land in the area only to be black-banned by local tradies, has gone viral.

The claims are now the talk of the town, with many locals, builders and real estate agents contacted by the Herald Sun confirming rumours are rife about where Mr Andrews proposed to build a house on the Murray River waterfront.

In the video, posted to social media, Adam Scholte claimed Mr Andrews had visited the watering hole with a few mates but was promptly told to leave, adding “people inside (the pub) were saying you may as well leave the whole town as well”.

Asked about the video, Bundalong Tavern publican Brett Butler said Mr Andrews had indeed 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

He said he was shocked the former premier still had mates to have a beer with.

Mr Butler also said that Mr Andrews was “lucky the pub doesn’t have stairs or he might have fallen down them on the way out”.

A spokesman for the former premier hit back, saying Mr Andrews had “never visited the pub”.

But Mr Butler responded: “Well he must have a twin.”

While mystery endures over whether Mr Andrews was actually turned away from the pub, the ex-Premier’s spokesperson also insisted he did not own property in Bundalong.

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

Regardless, Mr Butler said Mr Andrews would do well to stay away from the town, where he was extremely unpopular.

“He won’t get a cold beer or parma here,” the long-time pub and local accommodation owner and high-profile member of the Bundalong community 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 most of 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.

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

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 – who grew up and went to school in nearby Wangaratta – 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