Wednesday, 18 February 2026

 David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (18:46): (2332) My matter for the adjournment tonight concerns the protection of statues, sculptures and monuments around the city and more broadly in the state. We have seen some terrible acts of vandalism in the recent period: the cutting down of Captain Cook’s statue and other acts of vandalism that damage ancient and very important statues that reflect our history. This should not be allowed. It should be opposed in every way. I want to draw the Minister for Creative Industries’ attention to the notice of motion on 3 February 2026 from Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece and Deputy Lord Mayor Roshena Campbell at the City of Melbourne that the Future Melbourne Committee:

Notes repeated acts of vandalism …

I just want to put on record that I think it is very important that our major council is now recognising that these acts of vandalism are part of a pattern. The importance of this recognition is significant. It:

Requests management to take a proactive approach, increase on-site security and CCTV …

and look at certain other mechanisms, potentially fencing in certain cases. Importantly, at 1.5 they focus on the pursuit and recovery of repair or reinstatement costs from responsible parties. I say they should hunt down these people who have destroyed our statues and our history. They should hunt down these people and they should make them pay – they should pay. If you have destroyed an ancient statue, you should be held accountable for that and you should pay. I think that the City of Melbourne, through its particular set of minutes, has actually begun to recognise that, and I pay tribute to them. I am not sure that I like 1.6.2 quite as much, but I leave that to one side. At 1.6 it:

Resolves that the statues and memorials policy be finalised and presented to Council by April 2026 …

I welcome the decision of the council to push ahead so firmly with that. At 1.7 it:

Requests an update from management by April 2026 of the actions needed and the timelines for delivery and repair relating to the following statues: (1) Vida Goldstein; (2) Burke and Wills; and (3) the King George V memorial.

Again, important statues, all of them. They should be restored, they should be protected and they should be on public display. The Burke and Wills one is an important one. The state government wanted it out, and now they have actually got the opportunity to bring it out of storage and make sure that it is visible. This is an important point, and I ask the Minister for Creative Industries to look at this policy and to institute a recovery and repair – (Time expired)