Victoria’s new Chief Commissioner of Police, Mike Bush, has laid out an ambitious vision for a law enforcement overhaul—promising to get more officers on the streets, weed out protest extremists, and crack down hard on gang leaders behind the state’s illicit tobacco war.
In his first interview since taking office a month ago, Bush declared Victoria’s climbing crime rate “must be reversed” and vowed to set specific targets in the coming weeks.
“We’re going back to basics,” Bush told the Herald Sun. “Police officers joined the force to stop crime, respond to emergencies, and keep communities safe. We need to let them do that.”
Combatting Bureaucracy and Modernising Systems
Bush revealed that Victoria Police’s outdated and fragmented IT systems were obstructing frontline operations. He plans to introduce an integrated system modelled on his former force in New Zealand, aiming to reduce redundant paperwork and improve response times.
A team will travel to New Zealand in six weeks to study the model he helped implement there.
Youth Crime, Family Violence and Mental Health
Bush highlighted youth crime and repeat teen offenders as urgent priorities. While stating he does not want to see young people in prison, he added that “some serious recidivist offenders—unfortunately, jail is the only option to protect the community.”
He also flagged reforms to how police handle family violence cases, noting it can take officers up to six hours to process a single incident. “We need to do this more effectively,” he said.
Protest Extremism and Organised Crime
Declaring Victoria “the protest capital of Australia,” Bush said the force would take a “surgical” approach to dealing with extreme elements within protest movements. He warned of growing threats to social cohesion from polarising ideologies and pledged to use both legislation and policing powers to deal with those who incite harm.
He also promised aggressive action against organised crime figures—particularly those orchestrating illicit tobacco operations and drug shipments from overseas.
“The freedom and finances of these individuals will be targeted,” he said, citing ongoing cooperation with international law enforcement agencies.
A Preventive Strategy
Bush, who replaces Shane Patton, is a strong advocate of preventive policing and said the force would intensify partnerships with social services and government agencies to tackle the root causes of crime.
“That’s why we exist,” he said. “Not just to react—but to prevent crime before it happens.”
