Latest news with #AllanLabor
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
'Too much crime': top cop vows to speak truth to power
Mike Bush is under no illusion about the challenges that confront him as top cop after a leadership crisis in Australia's second-largest police force. The former New Zealand police commissioner officially took the reins of Victoria Police on Friday, ending a four-month saga among the force's top ranks. Restoring public trust in the troubled force and tackling the state's exploding crime rate are among his initial priorities. "There's too much crime," Mr Bush told reporters after a traditional Maori powhiri ceremony and an address to about 360 budding recruits at the state police academy in Glen Waverley. "There's too much youth crime. Organised crime drives so much harm in our communities. "We've got to find a way to work with others to get ahead of it." A self-described outsider, Mr Bush comes to Victoria Police after a highly publicised leadership crisis. An overwhelming no-confidence vote from officers after an 18-month pay dispute cost chief commissioner Shane Patton his job in February. Rick Nugent stepped in as acting chief and expressed an interest in making the move permanent but withdrew from the race in April, citing a lack of drive. Deputy police commissioner Neil Paterson, who was also shown the door, had earlier made a complaint to the corruption watchdog alleging "gross interference and politicisation of police function" from senior figures. The change at the top of the Victorian force comes after NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb recently announced her early retirement, although she has tipped one of the state's own to replace her. Flanked by Premier Jacinta Allan and Police Minister Anthony Carbines, Mr Bush vowed not to shirk from asking "hard questions" of them. "Governments love that," he said. "Well the governments I'm used to and I'm sure this government (do) as well ... that is part of my job." Mr Bush described putting the Victoria Police uniform on for the first time as "weird but great" and revealed he recently caught up with Mr Patton, whom he had known and respected for many years. "We might have different ways of policing," the Kiwi said. "He shared his advice. I have my own from over 42 years." The police veteran joined the NZ police force in 1978 and led it from 2014 to 2020, with the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks and Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption among the biggest crises of his tenure. Crime statistics show youth crime in Victoria at its highest point since 1993, when electronic data collection started. The latest figures do not capture the impact of harsher bail laws rushed through parliament by the under-pressure Allan Labor government. Police union boss Wayne Gatt said every police officer and community member in Victoria had a stake in Mr Bush's success. The incoming chief commissioner had a reputation as a leader who listened to officers and prioritised prevention as the greatest weapon against crime, Mr Gatt said. "We think that these virtues will be invaluable in the fight to win back Victoria," he said. The Victorian opposition issued a list of 10 priorities for Mr Bush's five-year tenure, including filling officer vacancies and speaking truth to power. "I hope chief commissioner Bush gets the chance to do that, but at the moment I have no confidence," Opposition Leader Brad Battin said. Another round of proposed changes to bail laws is expected to be introduced to parliament as early as late July. Mike Bush is under no illusion about the challenges that confront him as top cop after a leadership crisis in Australia's second-largest police force. The former New Zealand police commissioner officially took the reins of Victoria Police on Friday, ending a four-month saga among the force's top ranks. Restoring public trust in the troubled force and tackling the state's exploding crime rate are among his initial priorities. "There's too much crime," Mr Bush told reporters after a traditional Maori powhiri ceremony and an address to about 360 budding recruits at the state police academy in Glen Waverley. "There's too much youth crime. Organised crime drives so much harm in our communities. "We've got to find a way to work with others to get ahead of it." A self-described outsider, Mr Bush comes to Victoria Police after a highly publicised leadership crisis. An overwhelming no-confidence vote from officers after an 18-month pay dispute cost chief commissioner Shane Patton his job in February. Rick Nugent stepped in as acting chief and expressed an interest in making the move permanent but withdrew from the race in April, citing a lack of drive. Deputy police commissioner Neil Paterson, who was also shown the door, had earlier made a complaint to the corruption watchdog alleging "gross interference and politicisation of police function" from senior figures. The change at the top of the Victorian force comes after NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb recently announced her early retirement, although she has tipped one of the state's own to replace her. Flanked by Premier Jacinta Allan and Police Minister Anthony Carbines, Mr Bush vowed not to shirk from asking "hard questions" of them. "Governments love that," he said. "Well the governments I'm used to and I'm sure this government (do) as well ... that is part of my job." Mr Bush described putting the Victoria Police uniform on for the first time as "weird but great" and revealed he recently caught up with Mr Patton, whom he had known and respected for many years. "We might have different ways of policing," the Kiwi said. "He shared his advice. I have my own from over 42 years." The police veteran joined the NZ police force in 1978 and led it from 2014 to 2020, with the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks and Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption among the biggest crises of his tenure. Crime statistics show youth crime in Victoria at its highest point since 1993, when electronic data collection started. The latest figures do not capture the impact of harsher bail laws rushed through parliament by the under-pressure Allan Labor government. Police union boss Wayne Gatt said every police officer and community member in Victoria had a stake in Mr Bush's success. The incoming chief commissioner had a reputation as a leader who listened to officers and prioritised prevention as the greatest weapon against crime, Mr Gatt said. "We think that these virtues will be invaluable in the fight to win back Victoria," he said. The Victorian opposition issued a list of 10 priorities for Mr Bush's five-year tenure, including filling officer vacancies and speaking truth to power. "I hope chief commissioner Bush gets the chance to do that, but at the moment I have no confidence," Opposition Leader Brad Battin said. Another round of proposed changes to bail laws is expected to be introduced to parliament as early as late July. Mike Bush is under no illusion about the challenges that confront him as top cop after a leadership crisis in Australia's second-largest police force. The former New Zealand police commissioner officially took the reins of Victoria Police on Friday, ending a four-month saga among the force's top ranks. Restoring public trust in the troubled force and tackling the state's exploding crime rate are among his initial priorities. "There's too much crime," Mr Bush told reporters after a traditional Maori powhiri ceremony and an address to about 360 budding recruits at the state police academy in Glen Waverley. "There's too much youth crime. Organised crime drives so much harm in our communities. "We've got to find a way to work with others to get ahead of it." A self-described outsider, Mr Bush comes to Victoria Police after a highly publicised leadership crisis. An overwhelming no-confidence vote from officers after an 18-month pay dispute cost chief commissioner Shane Patton his job in February. Rick Nugent stepped in as acting chief and expressed an interest in making the move permanent but withdrew from the race in April, citing a lack of drive. Deputy police commissioner Neil Paterson, who was also shown the door, had earlier made a complaint to the corruption watchdog alleging "gross interference and politicisation of police function" from senior figures. The change at the top of the Victorian force comes after NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb recently announced her early retirement, although she has tipped one of the state's own to replace her. Flanked by Premier Jacinta Allan and Police Minister Anthony Carbines, Mr Bush vowed not to shirk from asking "hard questions" of them. "Governments love that," he said. "Well the governments I'm used to and I'm sure this government (do) as well ... that is part of my job." Mr Bush described putting the Victoria Police uniform on for the first time as "weird but great" and revealed he recently caught up with Mr Patton, whom he had known and respected for many years. "We might have different ways of policing," the Kiwi said. "He shared his advice. I have my own from over 42 years." The police veteran joined the NZ police force in 1978 and led it from 2014 to 2020, with the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks and Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption among the biggest crises of his tenure. Crime statistics show youth crime in Victoria at its highest point since 1993, when electronic data collection started. The latest figures do not capture the impact of harsher bail laws rushed through parliament by the under-pressure Allan Labor government. Police union boss Wayne Gatt said every police officer and community member in Victoria had a stake in Mr Bush's success. The incoming chief commissioner had a reputation as a leader who listened to officers and prioritised prevention as the greatest weapon against crime, Mr Gatt said. "We think that these virtues will be invaluable in the fight to win back Victoria," he said. The Victorian opposition issued a list of 10 priorities for Mr Bush's five-year tenure, including filling officer vacancies and speaking truth to power. "I hope chief commissioner Bush gets the chance to do that, but at the moment I have no confidence," Opposition Leader Brad Battin said. Another round of proposed changes to bail laws is expected to be introduced to parliament as early as late July. Mike Bush is under no illusion about the challenges that confront him as top cop after a leadership crisis in Australia's second-largest police force. The former New Zealand police commissioner officially took the reins of Victoria Police on Friday, ending a four-month saga among the force's top ranks. Restoring public trust in the troubled force and tackling the state's exploding crime rate are among his initial priorities. "There's too much crime," Mr Bush told reporters after a traditional Maori powhiri ceremony and an address to about 360 budding recruits at the state police academy in Glen Waverley. "There's too much youth crime. Organised crime drives so much harm in our communities. "We've got to find a way to work with others to get ahead of it." A self-described outsider, Mr Bush comes to Victoria Police after a highly publicised leadership crisis. An overwhelming no-confidence vote from officers after an 18-month pay dispute cost chief commissioner Shane Patton his job in February. Rick Nugent stepped in as acting chief and expressed an interest in making the move permanent but withdrew from the race in April, citing a lack of drive. Deputy police commissioner Neil Paterson, who was also shown the door, had earlier made a complaint to the corruption watchdog alleging "gross interference and politicisation of police function" from senior figures. The change at the top of the Victorian force comes after NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb recently announced her early retirement, although she has tipped one of the state's own to replace her. Flanked by Premier Jacinta Allan and Police Minister Anthony Carbines, Mr Bush vowed not to shirk from asking "hard questions" of them. "Governments love that," he said. "Well the governments I'm used to and I'm sure this government (do) as well ... that is part of my job." Mr Bush described putting the Victoria Police uniform on for the first time as "weird but great" and revealed he recently caught up with Mr Patton, whom he had known and respected for many years. "We might have different ways of policing," the Kiwi said. "He shared his advice. I have my own from over 42 years." The police veteran joined the NZ police force in 1978 and led it from 2014 to 2020, with the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks and Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption among the biggest crises of his tenure. Crime statistics show youth crime in Victoria at its highest point since 1993, when electronic data collection started. The latest figures do not capture the impact of harsher bail laws rushed through parliament by the under-pressure Allan Labor government. Police union boss Wayne Gatt said every police officer and community member in Victoria had a stake in Mr Bush's success. The incoming chief commissioner had a reputation as a leader who listened to officers and prioritised prevention as the greatest weapon against crime, Mr Gatt said. "We think that these virtues will be invaluable in the fight to win back Victoria," he said. The Victorian opposition issued a list of 10 priorities for Mr Bush's five-year tenure, including filling officer vacancies and speaking truth to power. "I hope chief commissioner Bush gets the chance to do that, but at the moment I have no confidence," Opposition Leader Brad Battin said. Another round of proposed changes to bail laws is expected to be introduced to parliament as early as late July.
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
'Too much crime': top cop vows to speak truth to power
Mike Bush is under no illusion about the challenges that confront him as top cop after a leadership crisis in Australia's second-largest police force. The former New Zealand police commissioner officially took the reins of Victoria Police on Friday, ending a four-month saga among the force's top ranks. Restoring public trust in the troubled force and tackling the state's exploding crime rate are among his initial priorities. "There's too much crime," Mr Bush told reporters after a traditional Maori powhiri ceremony and an address to about 360 budding recruits at the state police academy in Glen Waverley. "There's too much youth crime. Organised crime drives so much harm in our communities. "We've got to find a way to work with others to get ahead of it." A self-described outsider, Mr Bush comes to Victoria Police after a highly publicised leadership crisis. An overwhelming no-confidence vote from officers after an 18-month pay dispute cost chief commissioner Shane Patton his job in February. Rick Nugent stepped in as acting chief and expressed an interest in making the move permanent but withdrew from the race in April, citing a lack of drive. Deputy police commissioner Neil Paterson, who was also shown the door, had earlier made a complaint to the corruption watchdog alleging "gross interference and politicisation of police function" from senior figures. The change at the top of the Victorian force comes after NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb recently announced her early retirement, although she has tipped one of the state's own to replace her. Flanked by Premier Jacinta Allan and Police Minister Anthony Carbines, Mr Bush vowed not to shirk from asking "hard questions" of them. "Governments love that," he said. "Well the governments I'm used to and I'm sure this government (do) as well ... that is part of my job." Mr Bush described putting the Victoria Police uniform on for the first time as "weird but great" and revealed he recently caught up with Mr Patton, whom he had known and respected for many years. "We might have different ways of policing," the Kiwi said. "He shared his advice. I have my own from over 42 years." The police veteran joined the NZ police force in 1978 and led it from 2014 to 2020, with the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks and Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption among the biggest crises of his tenure. Crime statistics show youth crime in Victoria at its highest point since 1993, when electronic data collection started. The latest figures do not capture the impact of harsher bail laws rushed through parliament by the under-pressure Allan Labor government. Police union boss Wayne Gatt said every police officer and community member in Victoria had a stake in Mr Bush's success. The incoming chief commissioner had a reputation as a leader who listened to officers and prioritised prevention as the greatest weapon against crime, Mr Gatt said. "We think that these virtues will be invaluable in the fight to win back Victoria," he said. The Victorian opposition issued a list of 10 priorities for Mr Bush's five-year tenure, including filling officer vacancies and speaking truth to power. "I hope chief commissioner Bush gets the chance to do that, but at the moment I have no confidence," Opposition Leader Brad Battin said. Another round of proposed changes to bail laws is expected to be introduced to parliament as early as late July.
Sky News AU
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Victorian Liberals urged to take action on ‘energy madness'
Sky News host Peta Credlin discusses Victoria's 'energy madness', urging the Liberals to take action against the Allan Labor government. 'In the people's republic of Victoria, there's been a minor reprieve from the energy madness, with the Allan Labor government softening its earlier ban on gas appliances in the home,' Ms Credlin says. 'Existing homes can still use gas for heating and cooking but if replacing a hot water system after 2027, it will have to be electric, not gas. 'The Victorian Liberals have rightly said this stinks, but they have not said they will oppose the legislation, and they have not said if elected next year, if they will repeal it. 'That is not good enough. It is beyond time for the Liberals here to get off the bloody fence.'
The Guardian
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Don't believe the hype: Victorian government deserves credit for not buckling to aggressive pro-gas campaign
It didn't go as far as previously flagged, but don't believe the negative hype about Victoria's plan to start weaning off gas: it is a significant step that will help drive households and businesses away from fossil fuels and cut energy bills. The Allan Labor government announced that gas heating and hot water systems will be banned in all new homes and nearly all new commercial buildings, including schools and hospitals, from 1 January 2027. They will not be connected to the state's gas network and will run on electric systems. New agricultural and manufacturing buildings, some of which use gas for high-temperature industrial processes, are excluded. Rental properties including public housing – a third of the housing stock – will have to move to electric appliances when existing gas heaters and water systems reach the end of their lives, starting from 1 March 2027. Owner-occupiers will have to make a similar shift, but only for hot water. Crucially, landlords will also have to do a range of energy efficiency work on their properties, including installing an efficient electric cooling system in main living areas – or a reverse-cycle air conditioner that both heats and cools – sealing leaky external doors, windows and wall vents, and making sure there is ceiling insulation. If properly implemented, these minimum standards will further cut bills and lead to homes being better temperature-regulated and healthier to live in. The logic for the move away from gas is straightforward. There are three main parts to it. Though still marketed as 'natural', and sometimes even as 'clean', gas is actually methane – a highly potent fossil fuel. It releases plenty of greenhouse gas when burned. The electricity grid is moving from being dominated by coal-fired power to renewable energy. Electric appliances are better for the planet and the people who live on it. It is a necessary part of getting to net zero emissions. Gas is expensive. Analysis has found electrification of appliances should save households nearly $1,000 a year on their energy bills. There are upfront costs in getting new systems, but the Victorian policy is not forcing people to change over until their existing system is dead, and offers rebates to help with the change. Victoria is running out of gas. For decades, it has relied on reservoirs in Bass Strait, but they are running low, and all potential new sources are expensive. The state government wants to install a 20-year floating liquified natural gas (LNG) import terminal near Geelong to make sure demand is met. It sounds ridiculous, but may be the least bad option available – after the most obvious one: reducing gas use as much as possible so that it is available for the few industrial processes that do not yet have viable alternatives. Victoria is Australia's most gas-reliant state, with about three-quarters of homes connected to the gas network, and there is a decent case that it could be going further. Labor shelved an earlier proposal to also require owner-occupiers to buy electric heaters when their gas heaters died. Gas cookers are not included at all. They can continue to be installed indefinitely. But the government deserves credit – and has been praised by advocates and some in industry – for not buckling to an at-times aggressive pro-gas PR campaign that has lobbied ministers and government staff and sought to sway the public. Australian Gas Networks-sponsored MasterChef Australia, which is shot in Victoria, ran advertisements that were found to include unsubstantiated claims about the potential for 'renewable gas' to replace fossil fuel gas in networks. The Herald Sun claimed to support net zero emissions commitments, but ran prominent advertorials sponsored by gas companies that neglected to tell readers that the fossil fuel is part of the climate problem. Some organisations, such as the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, suggested that the state should have instead just backed new gas extraction. The chamber's chief executive, Paul Guerra, continued his criticism on Tuesday, telling 3AW that the policy – which just imposes minimum standards most homeowners take for granted – was 'class warfare' against landlords. Sign up to Clear Air Australia Adam Morton brings you incisive analysis about the politics and impact of the climate crisis after newsletter promotion Others, such as the Australian Industry Group, were cautious but open. It welcomed the changes as 'pragmatic', and argued that over the next decade it could free up gas supply equivalent in scale to what would be extracted from New South Wales' Narrabri gas field over the same period. That the package got up is primarily due to the state's longstanding energy and climate minister, Lily D'Ambrosio, who designed and championed it. She won support from the plumbers' union, whose members install gas appliances. The final plan was backed by conservation organisations including Friends of the Earth and Environment Victoria, which said it showed the government was willing to put 'the interests of households and business owners ahead of wealthy gas corporations'. The head of the Victorian Council of Social Service, Juanita Pope, said the new rental standards were 'a major win' that would 'literally save lives'. The chief executive of the thinktank Rewiring Australia, Francis Vierboom, summarised: 'It's a BFD.' The chief executive of the Energy Efficiency Council, Luke Menzel, said while it was disappointing that the mandatory phasing out of gas space heaters in owner-occupied homes was dropped, the government should be applauded for making 'big, bold decisions' – and the rest of the country should be paying attention. 'It is a nation-leading reform,' he said. 'It is setting the pace for the other states.' It is also an assessment of what the government believes is politically durable. More will be needed. But it is a promising start. Adam Morton is Guardian Australia's climate and environment editor
News.com.au
17-06-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Criminals who boast about their crimes on social media will serve extra time under new laws in Victoria
Criminals who boast about their crimes online could serve extra jail time under news laws introduced in Victoria. The Allan Labor government will outlaw bragging about certain crimes on social media and messaging apps, which could see offenders serve an additional two years behind bars on top of their sentence. The new law targets criminals who post content about their crimes such as affray, burglary, robbery, car theft, carjacking, home invasions and violent disorder. The laws will also apply to anyone caught encouraging or facilitating the same crimes. The legislation was introduced after authorities noticed a 'dangerous trend' on TikTok and Snapchat from users seeking attention about their crimes and copycat offending. Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny said Victorians were outraged by offenders posting and boasting about their crimes, which was why they were taking action. 'This crack down alongside our tough new bail laws and machete ban is all about keeping Victorians safe,' she said. Police Minister Anthony Carbines these laws backed the work of Victoria Police and sent a clear message to offenders. 'Crime isn't content, it isn't entertainment, and it won't be tolerated,' he said. Similar laws already exist in NSW, Queensland and the Northern Territory, and are being rolled in Tasmania, West Australia and South Australia making Victoria the last state to act. Shadow Attorney-General Michael O'Brien said the opposition raised an issue that offenders used social media to glorify criminal behaviour 18 months ago, but the government denied action was necessary until now. He said too many Victorians who were victims of serious offending had insult added to injury by perpetrators bragging about their crimes online. Mr O'Brien said the government had been dragged kicking and screaming to act after denying there was a problem. 'Labor did it with weak bail laws. Labor did it with banning machetes. Now Labor is doing it with 'post and boast' offending,' he said. 'Victorians deserve better than 'deny, delay and drag'. It's no way to protect community safety.' But the Justice Reform Initiative's Executive Director Mindy Sotiri said the Victorian government had reverted to political posturing, missing an opportunity to engage with evidence about what worked to support community safety and prevent reoffending. The organisation reported Victoria's correctional system was under mounting strain after changes to bail laws, seeing the adult remand population and the number of children on remand rise by 22 per cent and 71 per cent respectively in the past year. Dr Sotiri said further punishing people for posting to social media failed to address the drivers of that behaviour and won't work as a deterrent. 'Introducing penalties for 'posting and boasting' sounds catchy and might work for political pointscoring in the short-term, but is not based in any evidence, 'she said. 'All the evidence shows that the earlier children have interaction with the criminal justice system, the more likely they are to be cycling in and out of it for years to come. That's a bad result for children, for taxpayers and for community safety. 'We've seen this 'tough on crime' approach repeatedly fail in Queensland and contribute to rapidly rising prison numbers in NSW. 'Rather than trying to outdo other jurisdictions with even harsher laws, Victoria needs to take a smarter approach that meaningfully invests in evidence-based responses to crime that genuinely disrupt its reoccurrence.'
