Premier Jacinta Allen and Police Minister Anthony Carbine announced Mike Bush as the next Victorian Police Commissioner this morning.
Bush had been a member of the New Zealand police force since 1978, leading police responses to major events including the Christchurch massacre in 2019 and the White Island volcano eruption of that same year.
In her announcement this morning, Allen said she was confident the new commissioner would see valuable change made within the force.
“He will bring new leadership to Victoria Police. Mr Bush made the community safer in New Zealand and he will do the same here in Victoria,” she said.
Bush expressed his honour in being given the role and vowed to ensure Victoria’s trust and confidence in their police.
“We will do that by ensuring that we are operationally excellent, that we are transparent, we act with integrity, with professionalism, with respect and with compassion,” he said.
Bush will begin his role as chief starting June 27, 2025.
In February 2025, the former Commissioner Shane Patton left Victoria Police after his unfavourable handling of pay disputes between the state government and the Police Association of Victoria. Since then, Victoria has been undergoing a lengthy recruitment process to find his replacement.
Photo: Mike Bush, October 2020 by Governor General of New Zealand is available HERE and is used under a Creative Commons Licence. This image has been cropped
