Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has firmly denied allegations that she and Police Minister Anthony Carbines orchestrated the dismissals of the state’s top police officials. This claim has emerged in light of a request for an investigation by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) into suspected government interference.
Former Deputy Commissioner Neil Paterson, who lost his position alongside ex-Chief Commissioner Shane Patton, has called on IBAC to probe the circumstances surrounding their exits. Paterson contends that the government exerted undue influence over these decisions, suggesting that there was a premeditated plan to replace Patton with Rick Nugent.
Allan has rebutted these accusations, labelling them as “absolutely baseless.” She expressed disappointment that some individuals may politicise the operations of IBAC and reiterated her commitment to supporting the hard work of Victoria Police while advocating for new bail laws to be enacted by parliament.
In response to Paterson’s claims, Nugent has categorically denied any discussions with the government regarding his appointment as Acting Chief Commissioner prior to events surrounding a no-confidence vote on February 14. He explicitly stated that there were no conditions tied to Paterson’s removal that would facilitate his return to the police force, expressing his readiness to assist IBAC in resolving this matter.
Paterson, confident in the merit of his allegations, awaits IBAC’s decision on whether further investigation will proceed. Meanwhile, Liberal leader Brad Battin has seized the opportunity to criticise the Allan government, stating that it is embroiled in yet another corruption controversy, underscoring the frequency of IBAC inquiries related to the current administration.