Victorian minister under fire for writing 33 character references including for taxi driver who assaulted women

Victorian government minister Luba Grigorovitch is under fire for writing 33 character references, including one for a taxi driver found guilty of assaulting female passengers. The newly promoted minister acknowledged the controversy, stating she regrets six of the references and has vowed never to write another.

The revelations have sparked public debate and scrutiny of Grigorovitch's judgment. Character references can carry significant weight in legal proceedings, and the nature of this particular reference has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters. The opposition has called for accountability, questioning the appropriateness of such a reference from a government official.

Grigorovitch issued a statement on Monday night to address the issue, attempting to mitigate the damage to her reputation and the government's image. Her pledge to cease writing character references signals an attempt to move past the controversy, but the incident has nonetheless raised questions about the vetting process for ministerial conduct and the potential impact of personal endorsements in sensitive legal cases.

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I regret six of the character references I have penned and I will never write another.