Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants

This article is about the Royal Commission. For information about the actions of Nicola Gobbo in providing information to Victoria Police, see Nicola Gobbo as police informant.
Portrait of Commissioner Judge Margaret McMurdo AC FAAL

The Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants - An inquiry into Victoria Police’s use of Nicola Gobbo as a human source, referred to in the press as Lawyer X Royal Commission,[1] was a royal commission in Victoria, Australia set up to examine the actions of Nicola Gobbo and Victoria Police whilst Gobbo, also referred to as Informer 3838 (Victoria Police), Lawyer X (media), and EF (litigation),[2] was working as a lawyer and acting as a registered informer. It was announced on 3 December 2018, in response to the High Court AB v CD; EF v CD judgement, and was established on 13 December 2018 under Hon Margaret McMurdo[3] to examine the adequacy and effectiveness of the processes of Victoria Police for the recruitment, handling and management of human sources who are subject to legal obligations of confidentiality or privilege and the effect of using such sources on past cases.[4]

The commission delivered its final report and recommendations to the Governor of Victoria on 30 November 2020.[5] In response, the Victorian Government appointed Sir David Carruthers to the role of Royal Commission Implementation Monitor[6] and Geoffrey Nettle, who was one of the High Court justices who had decided AB v CD; EF v CD,[7] to the position of Special Investigator.[8]

  1. ^ "New twist in Lawyer X royal commission threatens faith in Victoria's legal profession". ABC Radio National. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  2. ^ Wahlquist, Calla (5 December 2018). "Gangsters, cops and Lawyer X: the police informant scandal that has shocked Australia". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants | Royal Commission into Management of Police Informants Content Management System". www.rcmpi.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Terms of reference for the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants" (PDF).
  5. ^ "Commission timeline | Royal Commission into Management of Police Informants Content Management System". www.rcmpi.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  6. ^ "New Laws To Keep Royal Commission Reforms On Track | Premier of Victoria". www.premier.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  7. ^ "AB (a pseudonym) v CD (a pseudonym); EF (a pseudonym) v CD (a pseudonym) [2018] HCA 58". Austlii. High Court. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  8. ^ "New Powers To Support Special Investigator Probe | Premier of Victoria". www.premier.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 3 March 2022.