By Brittany Busch, Rachel Eddie and John Silvester
Premier Jacinta Allan has denied allegations of corruption over the ousting of two police chiefs, calling the claims “absolutely baseless”.
On Wednesday morning, it was revealed dumped Victoria Police deputy commissioner Neil Paterson had filed a complaint with the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) alleging he and former chief commissioner Shane Patton had been removed from their roles last month due to an unlawful conspiracy.
Former Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Neil Paterson.Credit: AAP
The Age has confirmed the contents of the 25-page complaint, which alleges a conspiracy and misconduct in public office.
In it, Paterson calls for an investigation into whether the Allan government approached then-emergency management commissioner Rick Nugent to replace Patton weeks before they announced Patton’s contract would not be renewed.
Paterson told staff in an email just days later that he had been told by Nugent, who is now serving as acting chief commissioner, that the Victorian government would not renew his own contract when it expired in July.
At a press conference on Wednesday morning, Allan denied the allegations.
“They’re completely untrue these allegations. They’re baseless, completely untrue,” she told reporters.
“And it is quite disappointing, really disappointing, that there are some people choosing to politicise IBAC, politicise an integrity agency, by making these absolutely baseless allegations.”
Patton resigned as top cop following an overwhelming vote of no-confidence in which 87 per cent of members said they had lost faith in the state’s highest-ranking officer.
A source with knowledge of Patton and Paterson’s departures, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said those inside Victoria Police believe Allan and Nugent had formed a strong working relationship during his time as emergency management commissioner.
Acting Chief Commissioner Rick Nugent last month.Credit: Wayne Taylor
They said normally in the absence of a chief commissioner one of the three deputies would have taken on the role in an acting capacity. But bringing Nugent in, which also meant finding someone to replace him in his role at EMV, spoke to a long-term plan to keep him in the job.
On Wednesday morning, Nugent labelled the allegations “completely untrue”.
“There was absolutely no discussion between myself and government about me stepping into the acting chief commissioner role prior to the weekend of 15-16 February,” Nugent said in a statement.
“This was after the vote of no-confidence result on 14 February. There was no condition Deputy Commissioner Paterson be removed for me to return to Victoria Police. I look forward to assisting IBAC and the Ombudsman to resolve this matter.”
Allan said the allegations were a disappointing politicisation of corruption agencies.
However, she did not answer questions about whether Paterson had provided too much frank and fearless advice, whether the change in police leadership had been poorly handled by government, whether Paterson’s complaints were raised at the time, or if government had ever previously communicated that Paterson would not be reappointed.
She did confirm that Department of Premier and Cabinet secretary Jeremi Moule contacted Nugent on the weekend of February 15 and 16, but was unaware which day.
Opposition police spokesman David Southwick accused the government of removing the police chiefs for giving frank and fearless advice, and claimed Patton and Paterson were scapegoats.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has denied allegations of corruption.Credit: Penny Stephens
“This is unprecedented for this to happen. What it clearly shows is the government has crossed a line,” Southwick said.
The opposition suggested Nugent was working with the government, and would be less likely to give unfiltered advice than his predecessor.
But Opposition Leader Brad Battin said he was not claiming Nugent was a liar or a Labor patsy.
At the time Paterson left Victoria Police, he highlighted the commitment he and Patton had given to their jobs.
“Like … Patton, Victoria Police is an organisation that I too have committed my life to and one that I have the utmost pride in,” Paterson said in the email.
“I have been committed to serving the Victorian community for over 37 years, by detecting and apprehending offenders, supporting victims and helping those in need of assistance. That’s the reason I and every other police officer joins policing and turns up every day.”
Paterson was himself referred to the anti-corruption commission by Victoria Police last year after a formal complaint from Haileybury college about an alleged road-rage incident at a school pick-up in July.
It was alleged the then-deputy commissioner misused his position and authority during a verbal altercation with a school parent. The parent alleged Paterson, who was out of uniform and driving an unmarked car, was threatening and intimidating.
The parent was later charged and fined for failing to obey a traffic direction.
Paterson defended his conduct, telling The Age at the time it was the parent who was agitated and that he acted professionally throughout.
An IBAC spokesperson declined to comment.
“As a matter of practice, IBAC does not comment on whether it has a complaint or investigation before it,” they said in a statement.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.