<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Businesses and </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/politics" rel="" target="" title="politicians"><span>politicians</span></a><span> have slammed a plan to erect a statue of former Victorian Premier </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/daniel-andrews" rel="" target="" title="Daniel Andrews"><span>Daniel Andrews</span></a><span>, calling it a waste of taxpayer money.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/victoria" rel="" target="" title="Victorian"><span>Victorian</span></a><span> government confirmed the bronze statue is set to cost taxpayers more than $134,000 to be designed and built in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/melbourne" rel="" target="" title="Melbourne"><span>Melbourne</span></a><span>'s Treasury Square.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Jim's Mowing founder, Jim Penman, who was a vocal critic of Daniel Andrews during the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/covid-19" rel="" target="" title="COVID lockdowns"><span>COVID lockdowns</span></a><span>, said it is ridiculous to erect a statue to him.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/damien-anthony-peters-leash-tightens-for-double-murderer-former-fugitive/b8df5e60-18f0-4f13-9e45-abfc54dd0fb9" rel="" target="" title="Leash tightens for double murderer and former fugitive"><strong><span>Leash tightens for double murderer and former fugitive</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Penman called Andrew's the most disastrous premier in the state's history.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australian Restaurant and Cafe Chief Executive Wes Lambert said hospitality venues are still suffering from the effects of the COVID lockdowns, believing that the statue is not a good fiscal move.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Jeff Kennett, a former premier for the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/liberal-party" rel="" target="" title="Liberal Party"><span>Liberal Party</span></a><span>, started this policy of putting up statues for former premiers who spent 3000 days in office, but even he is not thrilled with the idea of the statue.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/statue-for-controversial-victorian-leader-slammed-as-tonedeaf/b1c0794f-fa84-4be0-ae6b-a60a4a2a41a2" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/police-investigating-body-found-at-park-in-melbournes-west/a4b86629-00dd-4043-8261-b2b9ee8d25f5"><strong><span>Ex-bikie's son kidnapped from home, found dead in park hours later</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Kennett said it is not compulsory and called it a "waste of money".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has defended the move, calling Andrew's a "fantastic premier".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We're just following the policy put in place by the previous premier, Jeff Kennett."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said that the Labor government was taking out the trash, noting the announcement would not "pass the pub test".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It is yet to be confirmed when the statue will be constructed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-politics-updates-donald-trump-visits-china-xi-jinping/3b9adc56-fb45-4330-a224-6a2114717eb0"><strong><span>Trump, Xi wrap up summit claiming progress stabilising US-China relations</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all 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