A war of words has erupted between a premier and a former top cop amid corruption allegations.
Victoria's former deputy police commissioner Neil Paterson has reportedly accused Premier Jacinta Allan, Police Minister Anthony Carbines, department secretary Jeremi Moule and acting police commissioner Rick Nugent of "corruption and misconduct".
He is asking the state's Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission to investigate allegations of "retribution" enacted on him and former police commissioner Shane Patton over policing advice to the government, according to the Herald Sun.
Mr Paterson was told his contract would not be renewed days after Mr Patton was dumped from his role following a no-confidence vote by rank-and-file officers.
He claims Mr Nugent "devolved his power as chief commissioner to the government" allowing the police minister to give directions on decisions about individual members, declaring it "gross interference and politicisation of police function".
Ms Allan on Wednesday dismissed the allegations and attacked Mr Paterson for politicising the integrity agency.
"These allegations are baseless, completely untrue," she told reporters.
"It is really disappointing that there are some people who are choosing to politicise IBAC, politicise an integrity agency, by making these absolutely baseless allegations."
She refused to directly address repeated questions about Mr Paterson’s exit and complaint.
The premier said Mr Nugent was asked to replace Mr Patton the weekend after the outcome of the union’s no-confidence vote was revealed.
But Mr Paterson alleges the government approached Mr Nugent to take on Mr Patton’s role weeks earlier.
Mr Nugent branded the allegations completely untrue and said he was looking forward to assisting IBAC and the ombudsman to resolve the matter.
"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," he said.
"This was after the vote of no confidence result on 14 February.
"There was no condition deputy commissioner Paterson be removed for me to return to Victoria Police."
Mr Paterson, who was contracted until July, left the force after 37 years.
He had oversight of regional operations along with the state emergencies and support command.
In November he was referred to IBAC over an alleged road rage incident outside the city campus of Haileybury, a private school, in July 2024.
Under the Victoria Police Act an acting chief commissioner can be appointed unilaterally by the police minister for up to four weeks, or indefinitely by the governor acting on government advice.
Deputy commissioners can be removed by the governor based on the recommendation of the police minister for a variety of grounds, including misconduct or bringing the force into disrepute.
In question time, the police minister insisted Mr Paterson's employment had not been terminated.
"Mr Paterson is on leave, on leave of his own choosing," Mr Carbines told parliament.
"The claims and the premise of the question from the leader of the opposition are baseless and false."
Opposition police spokesman David Southwick backed up Mr Paterson's claim that he and Mr Patton were booted for providing advice to government that didn't suit its agenda.
"The government has crossed the line. The government has got involved in what is police business," he said.
Mr Patton initially flagged his intention to remain chief commissioner after 87 per cent of voting union members expressed no confidence in him leading the force into the future.
Two days later, he resigned after the state government decided his position was untenable.
