Victorians have been warned a controversial statue to honour former state Premier Dan Andrews will cost taxpayers a fortune in repair bills from vandal attacks.

The state is set to foot the bill after plans for the bronze statue were confirmed last September, a year after Andrews suddenly quit politics after nine years as premier.

The process of installing the statue is already underway, with an insider revealing it will be placed at 1 Treasury Place in the CBD, next to the state parliament buildings.

No official costings have been released, but Peter Corlett, the artist behind four previous statues of former premiers has estimated each cost on average $100,000.

But the project has been given the green light by the Labor-run state government despite Victoria facing a crippling budget crunch amid a ballooning debt crisis.

Now senior opposition spokesperson Brad Rowswell called for the statue to be axed over its initial expense and fears of a cost blow out in the years ahead.

‘Cost of living is through the roof and Victorians don’t feel safe in their homes,’ Mr Rowswell said.

‘But Labor want to push on with an obelisk to their former dear leader. How out of touch can this mob be?

Victorians have been warned a statue of former premier Dan Andrews (pictured with wife Cath) will be a taxpayer-funded white elephant due to constant vandalism and increased security

An AI-created image of what the bronze statue of former Premier Dan Andrews could look like

An AI-created image of what the bronze statue of former Premier Dan Andrews could look like

The Andrews monument will most likely be placed next to this statue of former Victorian premier John Cain at 1 Treasury Place

The Andrews monument will most likely be placed next to this statue of former Victorian premier John Cain at 1 Treasury Place

‘Dan Andrews’ legacy, now eclipsed by the incompetence of Jacinta Allan, is nothing to celebrate.

‘He stuffed the state, sent us broke and every Victorian is paying for the price of his destruction.

‘The truth is the statue, should it go ahead, it’ll be vandalised or even decapitated every other day and will spend more time being repaired than being in public.

‘In a cruel twist I fear it’ll keep costing taxpayers more money to fix and keep it protected.

‘It’s about time Labor read the tea leaves on this one and rid their former leader to the dust bin of history where he belongs.’ 

Prominent Melbourne business leader Rob Angel has also spoken out against the statue and warned it could be the last straw for him and other companies.

He said he is currently evaluating whether to pull his multimillion dollar company EnviraGroup out of Victoria following Andrews’ stint as premier.

‘Our crippling debt for generations will be sufficient a reminder of Andrews’ premiership, we don’t need a statue,’ Mr Angel said. 

Senior opposition spokesperson Brad Rowswell (pictured) called for the statue plan to be binned

Senior opposition spokesperson Brad Rowswell (pictured) called for the statue plan to be binned

Dan Andrews garnered unwavering loyalty and admiration from some and derision from others over his nine years in the role

Dan Andrews garnered unwavering loyalty and admiration from some and derision from others over his nine years in the role

The Andrews statue will be placed near these two gentlemen

The Andrews statue will be placed near these two gentlemen

‘Andrews is responsible for the near-bankruptcy of Victoria and the state debt under his and Jacinta Allan’s Labor government is truly shocking.

‘Our net debt is growing by $80 million a day and is set to reach a record $187 billion by 2027.

‘Our interest repayments exceed $1 million and our debt could buy 47 large metropolitan hospitals so I don’t think a cent should be spent on a statue.’ 

Andrews garnered unwavering loyalty and admiration from some, and derision from others over his nine years in the role.

But his life in Victoria post-retirement turned into a nightmare as he faces stoushes and several fronts.

Multiple companies and owners including Jim’s Mowing boss Jim Penman and Melbourne hospitality supremo Paul Dimattina banned Andrews from their businesses and services.

Penman officially told Daily Mail Australia in December he had cancelled Andrews and ‘believes all of Victoria’ should blacklist the former pollie too.

‘If I was on the tools, I wouldn’t work for him, and I’d encourage any franchisee or independent contractor to do the same,’ Mr Penman said.

Jim's Mowing boss Jim Penman banned Andrews from his businesses and services

Jim’s Mowing boss Jim Penman banned Andrews from his businesses and services

Ex-AFL star Paul Dimattina, who runs popular South Melbourne venue Lamaro's Hotel, had banned Andrews from his venue

Ex-AFL star Paul Dimattina, who runs popular South Melbourne venue Lamaro’s Hotel, had banned Andrews from his venue

‘It must be humiliating for him [getting backlisted]. He was all powerful sitting on his throne at Spring St, wagging his fingers saying who can work and who can’t – but people now have the power.’

Mr Penman also said he thought it was ‘personally a good idea’ for Andrews to quit Victoria after his exit from politics and his new role as chair of youth mental health trust, Orygen.

‘I would hope he leave. He’s running out of options, I would recommend he leave Victoria, the amount of damage he has done to this state is immeasurable,’ he said.

‘It’s also ludicrous this business of Andrews running this mental health organisation its like letting rapists run women shelters or paedophiles running childcare centres.’

Daily Mail Australia also exclusively revealed in December that ex-AFL star Paul Dimattina, who runs popular South Melbourne venue Lamaro’s Hotel, had banned Andrews from his venue.

Mr Dimattina also said the former premier was ‘easily the most hated person’ in the Victoria as it is revealed multiple restaurant owners had refused service to Mr Andrews and his wife Cath.

‘No hope Andrews would get a seat at my pub,’ Mr Dimattina told Daily Mail Australia.

‘If he walked in and sat down… the Lamaro’s crowd would be disgusted if they saw him… Andrews is hated because of his whole anti-business stance.

Andrews life in Victoria post-retirement turned into a nightmare as he faces stoushes and several fronts

Andrews life in Victoria post-retirement turned into a nightmare as he faces stoushes and several fronts

Mr Dimattina, who followed his 131-game AFL career by taking charge of the restaurant and produce empire founded by his father Frank, said Andrews also ‘absolutely crippled’ the hospitality industry.

‘Business was decimated, the CBD is a ghost town, once thriving restaurants are boarded up, its the same at every high street, Chapel St, Lygon St, there’s empty businesses everywhere,’ he said.

‘What Andrews did is he made running a small business not an easy thing… he’d be better off leaving the state, I’m sure there’s some people who still love him, lefties and that, but he’s not welcome anywhere and we’ll all be better off without seeing him here.’

Restaurateur Chris Lucas also revealed he told Andrews’ wife Cath ‘not available’ after she called up to book a table at his Windsor eatery Hawker Hall located at the once bustling Melbourne Chapel St precinct during the Covid lockdown.

Prestigious National Golf Club on the Mornington Peninsula banned Andrews from joining and there was also rumours exclusive Portsea Golf Club knocked back the ex premier.

Andrews was Victorian Premier for almost nine years before he resigned in late 2023 and he has taken on a new role at Orygen, a mental health organisation.

Bronze statues of state premiers who spent more than 3000 days in office are immortalised outside government offices near Treasury Gardens in central Melbourne, under a rule introduced by former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett.

Andrews would join thestatues of John Cain (1982-1990), Rupert Hamer (1972-1981), Henry Bolte (1955-1972) and Albert Dunstan (1935-1945) at 1 Treasury Place.

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