Rick Nugent, appointed as Victoria Police Acting Chief Commissioner in February, finds himself at the center of controversy following allegations by former senior officer Neil Paterson. Paterson has accused the Victorian government and Nugent of corruption and misconduct. However, these claims have been strongly rejected by both Nugent and Premier Jacinta Allan, who have labeled the allegations as "baseless."
In a series of explosive accusations, Paterson contends that he and former Chief Commissioner Shane Patton were victims of an "unlawful" conspiracy orchestrated by Jacinta Allan, Police Minister Anthony Carbines, and Rick Nugent. He claims these officials conspired to remove him and Patton from their roles within Victoria Police. Paterson has lodged a formal complaint with the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) over these alleged actions.
Government and Police Response
Both Jacinta Allan and Rick Nugent have categorically denied the allegations made by Paterson. Allan emphasized her stance in a firm statement.
"Completely untrue and it is quite disappointing, really disappointing that there are some people who are choosing to politicise IBAC, politicise an integrity agency, by making these absolutely baseless allegations." – Jacinta Allan
Rick Nugent also dismissed the claims, stating that there had been no prior discussions with the government regarding his appointment before February 15-16.
"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." – Rick Nugent
Allegations and Timeline
The allegations surfaced shortly after Paterson's contract was not renewed in February, the same month Shane Patton stepped down following a no-confidence vote against him by union members on February 14. Paterson alleges that Rick Nugent had been approached by the government weeks before this vote, suggesting a premeditated plan to replace both him and Patton.
In his departure, Paterson expressed his belief that there was a significant breach of public trust by government officials, amounting to corruption and misconduct.
"I believe the actions of the Premier Jacinta Allan, the Minister for Police Anthony Carbines, the secretary DPC (Department of Premier and Cabinet) Jeremi Moule and Rick Nugent amount to a significant breach of public trust and indeed amount to corruption and misconduct in public office." – Neil Paterson
Investigation and Implications
As the situation unfolds, IBAC will likely investigate the allegations put forth by Paterson. The claims have brought attention to the inner workings of Victoria Police and government interactions, raising questions about transparency and governance.
Both Jacinta Allan and Rick Nugent continue to stand firm in their rejection of the accusations. The resolution of this dispute will be closely watched as it may have significant repercussions for both Victoria Police and the government.
