Premier Denis Napthine has sacked the man who acted as Ted Baillieu's chief gatekeeper on freedom-of-information requests.

Long-serving Coalition staffer and expert on Victoria's freedom of information (FOI) law Don Coulson was dismissed suddenly on Thursday. He was a senior adviser to former premier Mr Baillieu and vetted FOI requests while working in the Office of the Premier.

Denis Napthine (pictured) has sacked Don Coulson. Credit:Pat Scala

It is believed the sacking coincided with media queries to the premier's office about possible communications involving Mr Coulson, the Office of Police Integrity, and Tristan Weston, an ex-adviser to former police minister Peter Ryan.

Last week the Herald Sun reported on taped conversations Mr Weston had with Mr Baillieu's former chief-of-staff, Tony Nutt, and Victorian Liberal Party director Damien Mantach. The conversations revealed the Liberal Party had paid Mr Weston $22,500 after he left Mr Ryan's office amid controversy over the police leadership crisis, and that Mr Nutt offered to help find work for Mr Weston.