Burnie council appoints former Vic police commissioner Simon Overland its general manager

The former police commissioner who led Victoria Police during Melbourne’s notorious gangland wars has now been appointed a senior role at a regional Tasmanian council.

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THE former police commissioner who led Victoria Police during Melbourne’s notorious gangland wars has now been appointed a senior role at a regional Tasmanian council.

Simon Overland, who was formerly the secretary of Tasmania’s Department of Justice has been appointed as Burnie City Council’s new general manager.

The five years Mr Overland spent in Hobart have been credited as being the most relaxed amid his turbulent career – aside from being king-hit near Elizabeth St mall.

Mr Overland led the Purana Taskforce on organised crime, which is credited with a prominent role in bringing an end to the Melbourne gangland wars, and resulted in convictions and lengthy jail terms for underworld figures Carl Williams and Tony Mokbel.

Former Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland departs the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants at the Fair Work Commission in Melbourne, Tuesday, January 21, 2020. (AAP Image/James Ross)

Burnie Mayor Steve Kons, a former Labor politician and deputy premier who was embroiled in the ‘Shreddergate’ controversry in 2008, said he is pleased with the appointment.

“We are extremely fortunate to have secured the services of a very senior and well qualified administrator into the role of general manager,” he said.

“As a council we are excited by this appointment and believe our city will really benefit from a fresh approach and a new set of eyes, together with the skills and experience of a person of this calibre.”

Burnie mayor Steve Kons. Picture: Grant Wells

Mr Overland brings extensive experience as a capable administrator in both state service with Victorian Police and the Tasmanian Department of Justice, as well as local government on the mainland, Mr Kons said.

“Mr Overland has been responsible for capably managing large organisations with revenues in the hundreds of millions. He has significant experience in management at a high level,” he continued.

“I am impressed not only with Mr Overland’s level of skills and experience as affirmed by others, but also by his commitment to continue academic studies at this stage in his life and career.

“Not only is that an achievement in itself but it demonstrates commitment, drive and capacity.

Interesting decision by Burnie City Council to appoint Victoria's ex-top cop Simon Overland as its new GM https://t.co/eeEJLngLYF via @theadvocatetas

— Rob Inglis (@rg_inglis) September 22, 2020

“We are looking forward to the perspective that an outside view will bring, and believe this will be a great benefit for the city.”

The appointment follows an open recruitment and selection process, which sought applications across Australia.

Mr Overland will commence his appointment with Burnie City Council on November 3, 2020.

Most recently Mr Overland has been involved in the media as Nicola Gobbo threatened the former chief commissioner she would pull out of giving evidence in a major police corruption case unless he gave her “like for like’’ compensation for ruining her career.

A series of Gobbo’s letters to Overland, unearthed by the Lawyer X royal commission, exposes the doublecrossing barrister’s tactic of using her secret history as a prolific, if not unprecedented, police informer and star witness to bully the force for money.

Neither wanted her use as “Human Source 3838’’ exposed.