Australia's newest police chief has been forced to defend himself in a heated back-and-forth, prompting his political master to argue the incoming boss didn't have to be "mistake-free".

Mal Lanyon was appointed to the top job in NSW on Wednesday, ending a months-long search that was plagued by speculation and rumours.

Though the veteran NSW police officer has long been considered the frontrunner for the commissioner role, leaks about a drunken episode and a decision to bring his close circle onto a police boat for the Sydney fireworks continue to follow him.

Immediately after the announcement, Mr Lanyon was forced to field questions from reporters about the 2021 incident near the Goulburn police academy when he was found drunk on the footpath and abused ambulance officers.

"I deeply re

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