The Victorian Parliament has descended into uproar after "Dictator Dan" Andrews was compared to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin during a heated debate over plans to erect a statue of the controversial former premier.

Go Ad Free

The controversy began when Liberal MP Moira Deeming presented a petition with more than 12,600 signatures urging the government to scrap the proposal to honour Andrews, who enraged Victorians with his authoritarian leadership style during brutal pandemic lockdowns. However, it was fellow Liberal Ann-Marie Hermans who triggered left-wing outrage when she drew the Stalin comparison.

800+ died under his watch .. he doesn’t deserve a statue he deserves to be jailed..

- The Victorian Parliament has erupted after Dan Andrews was sensationally compared to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin amid debate over plans to honour the ex premier with a bronze statue.

—… pic.twitter.com/ULOnsttMDz

— Rosita Díaz (@RositaDaz48) August 27, 2025

Hermans argued that under Andrews’ leadership “dissent was a crime.” She declared, “A government that centralises all power in a single office is not strong, it is autocratic. A leader who dismisses any dissenting view as unhelpful or selfish is not decisive. He is authoritarian.”

She went further, stating: “We’ve seen it in the hugely expanding size and influence of the premier’s private office which became a de facto shadow government operating with minimal scrutiny. The most glaring example of this is the government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.”

The good thing about the soon to be erected statue of Daniel Andrews is that it will be defaced every day and chopped down every other day.#springst #DictatorDanpic.twitter.com/A9Bv8s8Gpk

— Netz Melbourne (@netz_melb) August 27, 2025

Labor MPs reacted furiously, with Eastern Victoria representative Tom McIntosh condemning the remarks. He said: “I think to compare a Democratic leader in Victoria, a Democratic leader in Australia, to Stalin is disgusting.”

Moira Deeming’s motion in Parliament to cancel plans for a bronze statue of Daniel Andrews has been defeated, so he will now be forever immortalised in bronze.

In honour of the great man Daniel Andrews, let’s unleash a meme extravaganza.

Please share your top memes and go!👇 pic.twitter.com/wEuLzD3pIG

— Tracey (@TraceyLee_07) August 27, 2025

Only seven Coalition MPs turned up to support a motion acknowledging the petition, which was defeated. Andrews is expected to become just the fifth Victorian premier commemorated with a statue, though the government has refused to disclose the location or cost of the tribute.