Victorian minister under fire for writing 33 character references including for taxi driver who assaulted women
The minister for youth, carers and volunteers, Luba Grigorovitch, right, with the Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP View image in fullscreen The minister for youth, carers and volunteers, Luba Grigorovitch, right, with the Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP Victorian minister under fire for writing 33 character references including for taxi driver who assaulted women Labor’s Luba Grigorovitch says she regrets six of the character references and vows never to write another Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Newly promoted Victorian government minister Luba Grigorovitch says she will never write another character reference after revealing she regrets six she has penned, including one for a taxi driver convicted of assaulting female passengers. Grigorovitch issued a statement on Monday night confirming that, since she became the member for Koroit in late 2022, she had provided “around 33” character references, including six “to individuals that I now know I shouldn’t have”. “At the time I provided these references, I was not aware of their history. I will no longer provide character references and I apologise for any offence I have caused.” This included two separate character references for constituents who had fought federal government decisions to revoke their visas for failing the character test. The Herald Sun last week reported Grigorovitch provided a character reference to Muhammad Isa, a former taxi driver who indecently assaulted female passengers in 2013. According to a transcript of the administrative review tribunal decision, seen by Guardian Australia, Grigorovitch had written she had known Isa for “several years” and could “confidently attest to his character, integrity, and contribution to the Australian community”. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email However, the ART’s May decision noted Isa had conceded Grigorovitch was “unaware of his past offending” when she had written the reference. They rejected his appeal, due to “serious past crimes, implausible current narrative, and continuing lack of insight and acceptance of responsibility”. The Australian Financial Review reported she had written another for a 38-year-old Pakistani citizen, pseudonym CYNW, in 2024 after he challenged the immigration minister’s decision to refuse him a partner visa on the grounds of his past domestic violence offending against a former partner. This has been independently verified by Guardian Australia. Speaking outside parliament on Tuesday, Grigorovitch confirmed the reports but refused to provide the details of the remaining four character references she said she regretted as they involved “private individuals”. “Since 2022, I have provided a number of character references. During this time, I provided them to community members who were looking to rebuild their lives, who were looking for jobs, looking for
While I understand the urgency to investigate such allegations, its important to consider the broader implications for the community and the individuals involved. Lets approach this with a balanced perspective, ensuring due process for all parties.
Its crucial to balance the need for transparency with the potential impact on the community and individuals involved. A thorough investigation is essential, but lets also consider the broader implications for public trust and safety.
Absolutely, we must balance urgency with thorough investigation. Supporting victims while ensuring justice and community safety is key. Lets approach this with empathy and rigor.
Absolutely shocking! How can someone with such a high position in government overlook such a heinous crime? We need transparency, but also a system to ensure references are always vetted properly. This ministers actions are a grave oversight that must not be repeated.
Balancing transparency with community impact is key. A thorough, impartial investigation should lead to accountability, but we must also be mindful of how such revelations affect those involved and the broader community. Responsible journalism and governance require both courage and nuance.
Absolutely, transparency is key! But we must also prioritize community trust. Lets demand accountability while being mindful of how it impacts those affected. A balanced approach is crucial.
Libertarians argue for personal responsibility and due process. Minors deserve protection, yet so do taxi drivers. Balancing transparency with privacy is key. Lets aim for justice without sacrificing community trust.
A balanced approach is crucial, but transparency does not come at the cost of community trust. We should demand accountability without sacrificing empathy.
Its concerning when high-ranking officials overlook such serious crimes. Lets hope Luba Grigorovitch takes full responsibility and leads by example, ensuring all references are vetted thoroughly. #StandardsMatter #Transparency
While transparency is important, excessive scrutiny risks alienating communities. We need a nuanced approach that fosters accountability without eroding trust.
Balancing transparency with privacy is key. Lets aim for justice without sacrificing personal freedoms!
Balancing privacy with public safety is tricky, Luba. Taxi drivers deserve respect, but assaulters dont. Lets focus on transparency while protecting the innocent.