Latest news with #MikeBush
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Former Police Commissioner Mike Bush's new Victorian Police chief role at risk after citizenship questions
Former New Zealand police commissioner Mike Bush's new role as Victorian Police chief is in question after laws were discovered during his induction that may not allow a non-Australian citizen to step into the job. 9News reported that the Victorian Government was hastily trying to
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Eligibility query over new role for Bush
Mike Bush. PHOTO: ODT FILES The appointment of a New Zealander to take charge of a troubled state police force has hit an unexpected speed bump — laws needed to clarify his eligibility. Former New Zealand police commissioner Mike Bush was named Victoria's next chief commissioner earlier this month. He was due to take over on June 27, but the Victorian government is scrambling to ensure he is eligible for the job. It moved to an urgent amendment yesterday to ward off any potential legal challenges stemming from his appointment as a non-Australian citizen. The state government's upper house leader Jaclyn Symes said she did not learn of the change until Wednesday night. "There is some common law principles that suggest that there might be an issue for appointing a chief commissioner that is not an Australian citizen," she told Parliament. "That is not definitive, but to ensure that there are no issues, no challenges, it's something that we should fix." It is the latest chapter in a fiasco linked to the role after the sudden exits of Shane Patton and Rick Nugent. Victoria Police was first thrust into turmoil in February, when a no-confidence vote from officers cost Mr Patton his job. Mr Nugent became acting chief and expressed interest in making the move permanent before throwing in the towel in April. Premier Jacinta Allan would not reveal the date the government discovered the eligibility issue, saying it was while sorting paperwork for the appointment. She said the government was changing the law out of an abundance of caution. "It's an archaic law [and] it's also out of step with modern Victoria and the state we are today, where we want to attract the best and brightest from around the world," she said. The Bill will not be able to pass the lower house until June 17 at the earliest, 10 days before Mr Bush is due to start. He retired from policing in New Zealand in 2020, after joining in 1978 and spending his final six years in the top job. — AAP
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
'Archaic' law casts cloud over Kiwi's top cop job
The appointment of a Kiwi to take charge of a troubled state police force has hit an unexpected speed bump, with laws needed to clarify his eligibility. Former New Zealand Police commissioner Mike Bush was named Victoria's next chief commissioner earlier in May. He was due to take over on June 27, but the Victorian government is scrambling to ensure he is eligible for the job. It moved to an urgent amendment on Thursday to ward off any potential legal challenges stemming from his appointment as a non-Australian citizen. The state government's upper house leader Jaclyn Symes said she did not learn of the change until Wednesday night. "There is some common law principles that suggest that there might be an issue for appointing a chief commissioner that is not an Australian citizen," she told parliament. "That is not definitive, but to ensure that there are no issues, no challenges, it's something that we should fix." It's the latest chapter in a fiasco linked to the chief commissioner role after the sudden exits of Shane Patton and Rick Nugent. Victoria Police was first thrust into leadership turmoil in February, with a no-confidence vote from officers costing Mr Patton his job. Mr Nugent became acting chief and expressed an interest in making the move permanent before throwing in the towel in April. Premier Jacinta Allan would not reveal the exact date the government discovered the eligibility issue, only saying it was during the course of organising paperwork for the appointment. She said the government was changing the law out of an abundance of caution. "It's an archaic law (and) it's also out of step with modern Victoria and the state we are today, where we want to attract the best and brightest from around the world," Ms Allan told reporters. Deputy opposition upper house leader Evan Mulholland described the move as extraordinary. "I am aghast at the way this government has handled this," he said. "I am aghast at the way this government has botched this entire affair of rolling police commissioners." Ms Symes urged all members of parliament to back the change, declaring there was "broad support" for Mr Bush's appointment. The bill won't be able to pass the lower house until June 17 at the earliest, 10 days before Mr Bush is due to start. He retired from the NZ police force in 2020 after joining in 1978 and spending his final six years in the top job. The 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings, Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption and COVID-19 pandemic were among the biggest crises he confronted during his tenure. The reins of Victoria Police have not been handed to an outsider since former NSW Police assistant commissioner Christine Nixon in 2001.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Victorian government appoints Caroline McElnay as chief health officer
Caroline McElnay. Photo: Pool / Stuff / Robert Kitchin New Zealand's top public health official during the Covid-19 pandemic has been appointed the chief health officer for the state of Victoria in Australia. Dr Caroline McElnay, who was Director of Public Health between 2017 and 2022, worked alongside then-Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. McElnay was also named a companion of the Queen's Service Order in 2023 in recognition of her significant service to public health. In a statement, Dr McElnay said she was honoured to serve the Victorian community in this important role and looked forward to working with the government and the health sector to protect people's health. She will start the new role in August. Former New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush also recently took the job as Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police in Australia. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Herald Sun
20-05-2025
- Business
- Herald Sun
Trust in Victoria Police plunges to record low amid crime crisis
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Victoria's incoming top cop will face an uphill battle to win over the public as trust in the troubled force plummets to its lowest level on record. Just over half of Victorians say they are satisfied or have confidence in the state's police, budget figures have revealed. It comes as New Zealand's former police chief Mike Bush gears up to take over as Victoria Police's next Chief Commissioner late next month, relieving current Acting Chief Rick Nugent following his shock retirement announcement after just over a month in the role. An estimated 52 per cent of Victorians felt satisfied with policing in the state last year, down from 55 per cent in the 2023-24 financial year. Meanwhile, 55 per cent of Victorians were likely to have confidence in the force, down from almost 62 per cent. Victoria Police's satisfaction target percentage was 80 per cent and 82 per cent for confidence. The dwindling public approval ratings also follow the results of an internal poll that last year showed a 15 per cent drop in those who were 'satisfied with policing services'. On top of mounting public distrust in police, Mr Bush will be tasked with addressing a raft of issues that have plagued Victoria Police in recent years, including spiralling youth offending, knife crime and aggravated burglaries, lacklustre recruitment into the force and the state's deadly tobacco war. Illegal tobacco crackdown It comes as a new $46m tobacco licensing scheme has a plan to inspect 500 smoke shops a year. Also part of the licensing scheme was a plan to review up to 10,000 tobacco licence requests. The targets are the latest bids unveiled to thwart organised crime's major foothold in the booming black market trade, which has exploded in Victoria at a rate not experienced in any other state or territory. Victoria is home to as many illegal tobacco sellers as NSW, Queensland and South Australia combined. Ritchies chief executive Fred Harrison said the crackdown needed to go further. 'We need more than 500 inspections (per year). That's a little over one per day,' he said. 'The critical piece will be the enforcement and what penalties are handed down if found guilty.' Australian Association of Convenience Stores chief executive Theo Foukkare welcomed the inspections, but said the fiery conflict would not stop until federal authorities wound back tobacco tax. Another industry expert told the Herald Sun: 'Every effort to tackle this crisis is welcome but enforcement should have started yesterday'. 'Nearly $20 million has been allocated to the agency this year alone, yet tobacco enforcement won't begin until mid-next year. Even then, the plan is to conduct fewer than two inspections per day.' Youth crime The government allocated $13m to roll out its statewide machete ban prompted by soaring youth crime and knife-related offending. The Herald Sun understands that the bulk of that cash injection, which followed the announcement of the ban in March, would be used to set up drop-off points at police stations and other potential secure locations where Victorians could dispose of the soon to be banned weapon without facing criminal charges. Another portion of the $13m is likely to be spent on ad campaigns to spread the word about the ban and disposal locations. Police Minister Anthony Carbines said: 'We're the first in Australia to ban machetes. This Budget will support Victoria Police to get these dangerous weapons off our streets.' Jesuit Social Services chief executive Julie Edwards said the root causes of youth offending needed to be addressed alongside banning dangerous weapons. 'It's concerning that people are using machetes, but we also need to focus on factors that lead to young people getting into trouble in the first place and be tough on that, the root causes of crime,' she said. She said the $727m injection into expanding the state's prison system was boosting funding 'at the wrong end of the system'. $135m has been allocated to providing at-risk young people and young offenders with rehabilitation and help reintegrating into school and the community. But Shadow Youth Justice Minister David Southwick said several organisations that run youth outreach initiatives felt as though they were in limbo for another year after being left without new funding for additional programs. 'Despite a 16 per cent rise in youth crime, the $1.85 million cut from last year – intended to support 330 at-risk young people – still hasn't been delivered,' he said. Vulnerable youth are left without support, and communities are less safe.'
