Victorian Minister Under Fire for 33 Character References

Victorian minister Luba Grigorovitch faces criticism for writing 33 character references, including for a taxi driver who assaulted women, stating she regrets six of them.

Tue Jun 02 2026

Character References Controversy

Victorian minister Luba Grigorovitch is under fire after it was revealed she wrote 33 character references. This includes one for a taxi driver convicted of assaulting female passengers. Grigorovitch confirmed in a statement on Monday that since becoming 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". She vowed never to write another character reference.

Minister's Statement and Future Plans

Grigorovitch expressed regret for her actions, acknowledging that some of the references were for individuals she should not have supported. She accepted the criticism and promised to refrain from writing any further character references in the future. This incident is expected to prompt discussions within the Victorian government regarding the ethical responsibilities of public officials.

*Source: The Guardian World (2026-06-02)*

Tags: #Victoria #Luba Grigorovitch #character references #Australian politics