A Victorian sawmill owner has taken down an obscene and threatening sign which called Premier Daniel Andrews a "mongrel", but has said it may return.

Key points: The Premier's announcement last week of a ban on old-growth logging and a phase-out of native timber logging was met with dismay by mill owners

The Premier's announcement last week of a ban on old-growth logging and a phase-out of native timber logging was met with dismay by mill owners The owner of the sawmill says the sign may return but has removed the threat and some of the crude language

The owner of the sawmill says the sign may return but has removed the threat and some of the crude language Police have not laid charges

The sign was put up after the Victorian Government last week announced an immediate ban to old-growth logging and a phase-out of native timber logging by 2030.

The plan has been met with dismay by Victorian mill owners who are worried it will result in the loss of thousands of jobs.

John Mavros is the owner of the Canningvale Saw Mill in Heyfield, about 35 kilometres north-west of Sale in Victoria's Gippsland.

He removed the sign from the front of his mill on Thursday morning after speaking with police.

"The police asked me to remove the offensive part of the sign, at the bottom, but the sign has already done what we expected it to do and we removed it altogether," he said.

"I'll keep it for the near future. If things don't improve this sign is going back. If needed it will go up again. No ifs or buts about it."

The sign is now in storage at the Canningvale mill. The threat and 'c-word' has now been removed. ( ABC Gippsland: Sarah Maunder )

The bottom line of the sign originally said "die you mongrel c**t", aimed at the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.

After taking down the sign earlier this morning Mr Mavros removed the death threat, and the c-word.

"I've got 180 text messages of support and not a single one against it," Mr Mavros said.

"My fellow sawmillers support me. Hopefully now Daniel Andrews may realise there is resistance."

The sign hung at Mr Mavros' Canningvale mill at Heyfield. ( ABC Gippsland: Sarah Maunder )

Offensive language an offence

Victoria Police Acting Inspector Ali Howard said although the sign was on private property, it was still an offence.

"It may have been on private property, but it was visible to the public," she said.

"Any use of profane, abusive, or offensive language is an offence. So what we want to discourage is the use of language or any personal attack or threat.

"[The sign] was taken down voluntarily, very cooperatively, which is exactly what we want. We're not here to make anyone's life harder, but we also need to protect the rights of other people who don't need to read that sort of language.

Charges have not been laid against Mr Mavros.

Victoria's Police and Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville has condemned the sign.

"This does not improve public debate at all when people do that and I think it's completely inappropriate," she said.

"I understand emotions are running really high for many people, but let's try and ensure we have as respectful a debate as possible."