Pressure is mounting on Victoria's police minister after the state's top cop was unceremoniously dumped over an "unprecedented" no-confidence vote.
Premier Jacinta Allan and Police Minister Anthony Carbines faced a barrage of questions on Monday following chief commissioner Shane Patton's departure the previous night.
The overwhelming result of the union vote on Friday could not be ignored as it demonstrated police members wanted a fresh start, the premier argued.
"It is very clear that both the participation rate and the outcome is unprecedented," Ms Allan told reporters.
The vote triggered numerous confidential conversations in senior government ranks, resulting in Mr Patton's immediate resignation.
The premier refused to say if she or Mr Carbines had a direct conversation with Mr Patton, if his contract was being paid out and if he had been forced to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
Mr Carbines hinted weeks ago that Mr Patton's contract would be renewed when it expired in mid-2025, but on Monday suggested his re-appointment wasn't a fait accompli.
"I'm not going to go to detailed matters around senior appointments that had not concluded, that were still in discussion and were still underway," he said.
Mr Patton, who joined the force as a 16-year-old, initially vowed to stay on after the vote result was revealed, but information soon leaked he had been told his contract would not be renewed.
He issued a statement at 10pm on Sunday, announcing he would step away from the role effective immediately.
"It is with a heavy heart that I have made this decision," Mr Patton said.
Ms Allan rejected the government had treated Mr Patton poorly and said she had respect for his work.
The police minister still enjoyed her confidence after the debacle, she said.
Opposition Leader Brad Battin said Mr Patton was pushed out and made a scapegoat for crime concerns, and the premier must take responsibility for Mr Carbines' "failings" if she continued to stand by him.
"The reality is the vote of no confidence should have been directly in the minister here in Victoria," Mr Battin said.
Of the 14,571 Police Association members who took part in Friday's online ballot, more than 12,600 - or 87 per cent - did not have confidence Mr Patton could lead and manage Victoria Police.
After triggering the events leading to Mr Patton's resignation, police union secretary Wayne Gatt thanked him for his service and said the association would now continue fighting to address issues impacting the force, its members and the community.
Victoria's Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent will step into the role "as soon as practicable" until a replacement is chosen.
Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam AM will lead the organisation in the meantime.
Both are considered as potential replacements but the job will be advertised as part of a multi-jurisdictional search.
Mr Nugent, a former deputy commissioner, will be re-sworn as a Victoria Police member before he can officially take over the role.
State Emergency Service chief officer Tim Wiebusch will serve as acting Emergency Management Commissioner.
For more than a year, the force has been embroiled in a bitter pay battle, including Mr Patton unsuccessfully applying to the Fair Work Commission to intervene.
The saga has led to more than a dozen stop-work actions and members rejecting a deal agreed to by their own union.
A revised pay deal is set to be put to a vote.
