Christine Nixon unloads: Jeff Kennett attacked my leadership because of gender

Former top cop Christine Nixon accuses Jeff Kennett of criticising her leadership because of her gender.

Former Victorian police commissioner Christine Nixon says Jeff Kennett didn’t think she should have the job because of her gender. Picture: Aaron Francis

Jeff Kennett has lambasted former­ Victoria Police chief commissioner Christine Nixon for accusing­ him of misogyny, declarin­g that his criticism of her arises from her “unforgivable” action­s on Black Saturday and not because of her gender.

In an interview to promote her new book on female leadership, Ms Nixon said yesterday that the former premier had confronted her soon after her appointment and told her “I never would have hired you”, a claim she said was “absolutely” due to her gender.

“He didn’t think I should have the job,” she told Melbourne radio station 3AW. “I never had a conversation with him as to why he didn’t like me in charge of Victoria Police, but that’s certainly what I’ve watched over time.”

Mr Kennett emphatically rejecte­d Ms Nixon’s claim, saying he did not recall that conversation. “I do not take her comments as being factually correct,” he told The Australian.

“I have been a very strong critic of hers since the bushfires, for what I consider to be a desertion of her post.

“It was unforgivable, it remain­s unforgivable.

“That she is now giving lectures­ on leadership I find an absolute affront.”

Ms Nixon said Mr Kennett had been critical of her “from the very beginning”, but Mr Kennett said it was her decision to leave her command post on the night of Black Saturday in 2009, which he found offensive.

“The fact that she withdrew from the battle, that she went and had her hair done, spoke to a person re her memoirs and then went out for dinner with friends is unacceptable, and she should have been dismissed on the spot by the government of the day, never to be heard of again,” he said.

“Gender has never been an issue with me for recognition, for advancement, for promotion.

“Regardless of my words, my action will back that up.”

Earlier this year, Mr Kennett endorsed the appointment of former­ prime minister Julia Gillard­ as his successor as the chair of mental health advocacy organisation Beyondblue.

When questioned about Mr Kennett’s support for Ms Gillard, Ms Nixon responded: “He has appointe­d one woman to that role, that’s great.”

She was momentarily silent when asked about the fact Mr Kennett had also worked alongside several female chief executives at Beyondblue, before saying “I don’t know, really.”

Ms Nixon said there had been an “orchestrated campaign” against Ms Gillard while she was prime minister, saying Tony Abbott had “gone after her” and it was offensive for him to have described Ms Gillard as “this woman”.

She called for gender quotas to be more widely adopted, saying women were still not allowed into senior management roles.

“Our economies would be better off, our country would be better off,” she said.