VicPD parties at Government House for $22,000

This summer, VicPD used its bottomless budget to throw a party for their outgoing and incoming chiefs, which they called a “change of command” ceremony. Via FOI, we now know that event cost $22,015.

How do you spend that much public money on a party? Let’s count it up!

First, you book Government House for maximum pomp. Venue cost: $13,750
Then, you fill the place with police. Of course, you’re paying some of them overtime, because it’s “beyond their regularly scheduled duties.” Cost: $4,097.
For an event this good, you’re going to want to stream it! Never mind that they still don’t stream their annual budget meetings. Videographer costs: $1,969
Next, you’re going to need to get your people to and from the venue. Shuttle costs: $1,332.
And for your performers, there are honoraria to pay. Cost: $600.
Finally, the people are going to want a program to look at, so they know when exactly they’re going to hear “God Save the King.” Cost: $267.

Here’s the table VicPD released under FOI, totaling their expenses.

*Table from VicPD summarizing the costs of its August 2025 event at Government House.*

And that’s how you burn through $22,015 when you change staff. If we’re lucky, we’ll get to see the same type of event the next time Victoria changes CAOs. Except we won’t, because that would be ridiculous.

As part of their FOI response, VicPD sent a summary justifying the event and its cost. I won’t reproduce it here, except to say that it reads like an over-the-top, AI description, noting, for example, that the “live stream was expertly captured.”

The Victoria and Esquimalt mayors took part in the event, giving it their tacit endorsement, but VicPD operates with little meaningful oversight of their budget. They’ll even spend money on things city councils have explicitly told them not to.

VicPD is asking for a $90 million budget in 2026. It would be an $11 million, 14% increase. The fact that they can throw a $22,015 retirement party without anybody asking questions, with the mayors on stage, shows why they think they can get away with it.