Outgoing police commissioner Mick Fuller turns down federal politics approach

Mick Fuller is currently planning his future as he prepares to stand down as NSW police commissioner, but there was one proposal from Scott Morrison he turned down.

Outgoing NSW top cop Mick Fuller may trade in the blue uniform of the police for the green carpets of the House of Representatives – just not yet.

The Daily Telegraph understands that Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently approached the long-serving police commissioner about standing for parliament in the seat of Hughes, but that Mr Fuller politely knocked back the idea.

Instead, Mr Fuller told Mr Morrison that he wanted to spend some time in the private sector after spending four years in his high profile law enforcement job before re-entering public life.

“The Prime Minister was very polite in his suggestion – it was the first time I had seen him in about a year,” said Mr Fuller.

Outgoing NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller, who has knocked back an approach to run for federal politics. Picture: Rohan Kelly

“He said I should not discount a life serving the country in a new way.”

However, the career law enforcement official who began his policing career more than three decades ago at Kogarah Police Station said that he wants to spend some time broadening his private sector experience before returning to public life.

“I agreed that I would never close the door on returning to public service, however that looked, whether in politics or in some other capacity,” said Mr Fuller.

Speculation about where the outgoing commissioner might wind up has included suggestions that he may serve in some capacity with Australian Rugby League.

Earlier this year Mr Fuller was blocked from joining the ARL Commission in a bid to help clean up some of the league’s behaviour issues.

This year he helped design the 2021 NRL Premiership ring, which sported a ring of white diamonds and blue sapphires in homage to the white and blue chequered bands of the police force.

News of Mr Morrison’s suggestion comes as the government looks to find candidates to run in a number of high profile seats, including Hughes, which is currently held by maverick MP Craig Kelly and where an insurgent left-wing “Voices of” or “We Are”-style campaign hopes to install a pro-climate action independent in the seat.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the approach to Mr Fuller. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Mr Kelly left the Coalition party room earlier this year to join the crossbench after courting controversy not only with his support for unorthodox Covid treatments but also his support for his embattled staffer Frank Zumbo.

In August he was appointed leader of Craig Kelly’s United Australia Party.

While he held his seat by a massive 19 per cent margin at the 2019 election, Hughes is expected to be the scene of a massive effort by a so-called independents movement pushing environmental and transparency causes.

Originally published as Outgoing police commissioner Mick Fuller turns down federal politics approach