By Victorian state political reporter Richard Willingham, ABC
Former New Zealand police commissioner Mike Bush speaks at a press conference. Photo: Ana Tovey / RNZ
Former New Zealand police commissioner Mike Bush is set to lead Victoria Police, the ABC understands.
The state government is understood to have made the decision on Monday, with a formal appointment to made on Tuesday morning, senior sources say.
Victoria currently has an acting chief commissioner in Rick Nugent, after Shane Patton left the post following a vote of no confidence from police officers earlier this year.
His tenure was due to expire this year, and Bush won't begin work immediately.
The state government declined to comment when contacted.
Bush was commissioner for New Zealand Police from 2014 until 2020.
During his tenure, he led and oversaw police responses to major crises, including the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings, in which 51 people were killed by an Australian gunman.
He was also in the top job at the time of the 2019 Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption in which 22 people - including 14 Australians - were killed.
In 2017, he made headlines when he issued a public statement confirming that he had been convicted of drink-driving in 1983, when he was a 23-year-old off-duty detective.
In April, Rick Nugent, who took over as Victoria Police acting chief commissioner in February, announced he would not apply for the ongoing position, saying there were "other passions and opportunities" he wished to pursue.
"I just don't know that I have it in me to do the five years," he said while speaking to ABC Radio Melbourne.
"It just dawned on me, the realisation that this is a demanding job for a long period, I just decided not to [apply].
"Life is short and there are other passions and opportunities that I wish to pursue."
Nugent stepped into the position after Shane Patton resigned as police chief on 16 February, just two days after a no-confidence vote from his officers
The outgoing chief commissioner said in a statement at the time that "given the current circumstances surrounding my position, I have decided to step away from the role effective immediately".
"It is with a heavy heart that I have made this decision, however I think it is the right one to allow fresh leadership in the role," Mr Patton said.
His role had become increasingly uncertain following a resounding vote of no-confidence by officers, despite being expected to continue into a second five-year term as the state's police chief.
- ABC
