Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush has come under heavy criticism after taking a police helicopter to Tasmania for a conference instead of flying commercially — a decision made amid the force’s ongoing major cost-cutting program.
Bush admitted on Wednesday morning that the choice to use a crime-fighting helicopter for non-operational travel was a mistake, issuing a public apology shortly after the Herald Sun broke the story.
“We should have looked harder for a commercial flight,” he said. “While there were no operational or safety impacts, it creates a poor impression at a challenging time for our organisation.”
The revelation that Bush and New Zealand Police Commissioner Richard Chambers flew to Hobart on Monday in a Victoria Police air wing helicopter has triggered outrage both within the force and across political lines. The choppers, which provide aerial support for searches, rescues, and high-risk police operations, cost approximately $10,000 per flight hour, compared to $150–$500 for a commercial ticket.
Staff disbelief and political backlash
Sources told the Herald Sun that staff were in disbelief when they learned the Chief Commissioner had diverted a helicopter for the Australian and New Zealand Police Commissioners’ Forum, an event that had been scheduled in his diary for weeks.
“In the middle of a major cost-cutting program, this is incredible,” one officer said.
Opposition Leader and former police officer Brad Battin slammed the move, saying:
“This is a bad look when Victoria is in a crime crisis and police stations can’t afford basic maintenance. Taxpayers don’t expect their money to be spent on luxury flights.”
Police initially defended decision
Initially, a Victoria Police spokesperson defended Bush, arguing that poor weather and tight scheduling made commercial travel impractical. The Chief Commissioner had attended a counter-terrorism conference in Melbourne earlier that morning and, according to police, could not find a suitable commercial flight afterward.
However, flight tracking data later revealed that commercial planes were landing normally in Hobart that day, undercutting that explanation.
The spokesperson added that there was no additional financial burden to the force because the helicopter’s flight hours were already covered under its leasing contract. Even so, the optics of the decision were widely condemned.
Government and public reaction
An Allan government spokesperson confirmed that Bush attended the official police commissioners’ meeting but reiterated that “there was no impact to community safety or operations.”
Bush promised to return from the forum via commercial flight, acknowledging the public concern.
The controversy comes just months after Bush’s appointment as Chief Commissioner in May, following a turbulent leadership transition that saw Shane Patton depart and Rick Nugent decline the top job.
The incident — already dubbed “Choppergate” — has reignited questions about transparency, accountability, and leadership judgement within Victoria Police during a period of budget stress and public scrutiny.
