The Victorian Premier has rejected claims her government and the Acting Chief Commissioner of Police have been involved in an unlawful conspiracy.
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00:00There's explosive allegations today's Herald Sun detailing former Deputy Police Commissioner
00:07Neil Paterson making a complaint to Victoria's anti-corruption watchdog IBAC.
00:11Now, in its complaint it's reported that he has concerns and he wants an investigation
00:15into the Premiership of Central Island and the Police Minister Anthony Carbines, alleging
00:19them of basically a conspiracy to remove him and the former Chief Commissioner Shane Patton
00:25by approaching the now Acting Chief Commissioner Rick Nugent before he was actually appointed
00:30and before the other two were let go.
00:32Now, there was a vote of no confidence in the Chief Commissioner Shane Patton early
00:37in February.
00:39He was then replaced by the Acting Chief Commissioner Rick Nugent the following weekend.
00:43Rick Nugent in a statement this morning from Police said that the allegations in today's
00:48paper are completely untrue.
00:51He said there was absolutely no discussion between himself and the Government about stepping
00:54into the role prior to the weekend after that no confidence result on 14th of February.
01:00And he also says there was no condition, he never put any condition saying that Neil Paterson
01:04had to be removed if he was to take the job.
01:07The Premier and the Government for their part are also emphatically denying this allegation.
01:11Here's what the Premier told reporters a short time ago.
01:15These allegations, they're baseless.
01:18Absolutely baseless allegations.
01:19It is disappointing that IBAC, it's an independent integrity agency, that IBAC has been politicised
01:26in this way.
01:27Now the relationship between the Police and the Premier has been tested already this week.
01:32On Monday she announced the Police were setting up a new Operation Hawk to deal with new allegations
01:38of criminality in the CFMU and on big build sites in response to reports in 60 Minutes
01:43and The Age over the weekend.
01:44It turns out that operation had been going for nine months.
01:48She said yesterday that she was acting on advice from none other than Acting Chief Commissioner
01:52Rick Nugent.
01:53There's been some sort of communication breakdown then.
01:56This is another distraction for the Government but the Premier is emphatically denying these
02:00allegations.
02:01It's now over to IBAC to decide whether it should be investigation or not.