Victoria’s Chief Commissioner of Police, Mike Bush, is under mounting pressure after revelations he misled the public about his use of the force’s air wing — including taking an undeclared helicopter ride with his wife, described by insiders as nothing more than a “joy ride”.
Just two weeks after apologising for using a police helicopter to fly to Tasmania for a conference, new details confirm that Mr Bush and his wife, Vicky, enjoyed another undisclosed flight shortly after he took office. The trip reportedly took place from Victoria Police headquarters over Melbourne, joined by two visiting New Zealand officials.
A further flight took place on July 29, when Mr Bush and his executive assistant hitched a ride from Avalon Airport to Spencer Street HQ — instead of returning by car. Despite previously telling the public the Tasmania flight was his only non-operational use of the air wing, sources now accuse the Commissioner of “taking the public for fools”.
“He’s lost credibility,” one senior officer told the Herald Sun. “People inside the force are furious. Integrity matters.”
Adding fuel to the scandal, sources claim Mr Bush and colleagues have been “laughing about Choppergate” behind closed doors — a move that has further angered staff amid a major police restructure and looming job cuts.
Opposition Leader Brad Battin said the revelations raised serious concerns about leadership and transparency within Victoria Police. “At a time when crime is rising, Victorians deserve accountability, not spin,” Battin said.
Mr Bush defended himself on Wednesday, insisting he only used the helicopter once for non-operational reasons — the Tasmania trip — and another time as part of a familiarisation day with specialist units. He did not comment on his wife’s flight.
Appointed in May after a leadership shake-up, Bush’s tenure has quickly become mired in controversy. Many within the ranks now wonder if the turbulence around “Choppergate 2.0” will bring his leadership crashing down.
