9 hours ago
Mike Bush officially sworn in as Victoria's new police chief commissioner
Mike Bush has been officially sworn in as Victoria's new chief police commissioner.
Mr Bush vowed to be "responsible and accountable," while meeting with 360 recruits during a ceremony at the Victoria Police Academy in Glen Waverley on Friday morning.
"My mission is to ensure that the public and the communities do have complete faith in the Victoria Police," he said.
Mr Bush previously served as the New Zealand police commissioner from 2014 to 2020, where he oversaw the response to the Whakaari White Island volcano eruption and the Christchurch terror attack.
He is credited with addressing a problematic culture within the New Zealand Police Force and securing a 20 per cent uplift in personnel and budget.
"It's really important that we bring safe communities to Victoria. Everyone deserves that," he said.
Premier Jacinta Allan said Mr Bush will bring his four decades experience overseas to the role.
"During that period of leadership, Mike Bush transformed the organisation. Public trust in policing went up, and the crime rates went down," Ms Allan said.
Mr Bush begins his post during a turbulent period at Victoria Police.
In February, commissioner Shane Patton resigned following a resounding vote of no-confidence by police union members.
Rick Nugent — then Emergency Management Victoria commissioner — was parachuted into the role but later confirmed he would not apply for the permanent position.
Mr Bush said his mission will be to make Victorians feel safe by focusing on crime prevention and elevating morale within Victoria Police.
"Organised crime drives so much harm in our communities. We've got to find a way to work with others to get ahead of it," he said.
Crime continues to rise across Victoria, the latest data from the Crime Statistics Agency shows the number of offences increased by 17.1 per cent in the 12 months to the end of March.
Youth crime is at its highest since records began, with young offenders over-represented in aggravated burglaries and home invasions.
The government recently passed reforms for tougher bail tests and a statewide ban on machetes, which will come into effect in September.
Opposition Leader Brad Battin wished Mr Bush well, but conceded being chief commissioner is one of the "toughest jobs in the country".
"Victoria's police officers are some of the most dedicated in the world — but under Labor, they've been left unsupported, under-resourced, and asked to do more with less," Mr Battin said.
The opposition issued a list of "urgent priorities" for Mr Bush to address, like filling vacancies and restoring public confidence in Victoria Police.
The Police Association of Victoria said officers have a stake in Mr Bush's success.
"He's regarded as a leader who listens to his troops, who connects with community, and has been known to prioritise prevention as the greatest weapon against crime."
"We think, given the challenges we currently face in policing in this state, that these virtues will be invaluable in the fight to win back Victoria," Secretary Wayne Gatt said.
