The Victorian government is rushing to amend legislation after discovering that current laws may prevent former New Zealand police chief Mike Bush from serving as Victoria Police’s new chief commissioner due to his non-Australian citizenship.
Bush, who served as New Zealand’s police commissioner from 2014 to 2020, was recently announced as the successor to Shane Patton, who resigned following a no-confidence vote. Bush is set to take over the role on 27th of June .
Premier Jacinta Allan acknowledged that the law requiring the police chief to be an Australian citizen is outdated and does not reflect the inclusive, modern values of Victoria. She emphasized the government’s commitment to attracting the best talent globally, calling Bush “an outstanding appointment.”
To address the issue, the government has introduced an urgent amendment in parliament to remove any legal ambiguity about appointing a non-citizen to the role. Treasurer Jaclyn Symes noted that under common law, there could be challenges in appointing a chief commissioner who isn’t an Australian citizen.
However, the opposition has slammed the government for poor planning and oversight, questioning why an international search was conducted without confirming the legality of appointing a non-citizen. Liberal MP David Davis labelled the situation as part of a “chaotic approach to governing.”
Despite the criticism, the government remains firm in its decision, reaffirming that Mike Bush is the best candidate to lead Victoria Police.
