Police Minister Anthony Carbines and Premier Jacinta Allan had not spoken to Shane Patton before his axing, it’s been revealed
New details have emerged about the way Shane Patton’s messy axing as Victorian Police Chief Commissioner was handled.
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Police Minister Anthony Carbines made a desperate call to axed top cop Shane Patton minutes before a government press conference on Monday.
The call went unanswered, leaving Mr Carbines and Premier Jacinta Allan red-faced explaining they had not personally spoken to Mr Patton.
Mr Patton was on the Gold Coast on Friday when Cabinet secretary Jeremi Moule broke the news to him that his contract would not be renewed in June.
It came after an overwhelming vote of “no confidence’’ in Mr Patton by police members angry at a 4.5 per cent annual pay increase being offered as part of its enterprise bargaining agreement.
Premier Allan and Mr Carbines looked uncomfortable as they justified flipping on their decision to renew Mr Patton’s contract.
Details about the negotiated payout Mr Patton was offered has not been made public.
Mr Patton’s relationship with the Labor government had become strained over his reluctance to engage with the government for media opportunities as Victoria’s crime rate escalated.
Sources say Mr Patton’s advice to the government about stemming crime, including a youth crime wave, were largely ignored.
Some police members have also lashed The Police Association of Victoria over its handling of the enterprise bargaining agreement and its treatment of Mr Patton.
“The union did a dirty on him,’” a senior police source said.
Mr Patton, a union member, was sent a “no confidence’’ voting form prior to Friday’s vote on his tenure as chief commissioner.
Incoming acting chief commissioner Rick Nugent arrived at Victoria Police headquarters in Spencer St this morning and will be briefed on the force’s long-awaited organisational review.
The review is set to slash areas of the force under budget pressure.
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