Latest news with #LawyerX
The Age
a day ago
- Politics
- The Age
Lawyer X compensation bid fails, ending multimillion-dollar legal battle
The woman at the centre of the Lawyer X scandal – barrister turned secret police informer Nicola Gobbo – has lost her multimillion-dollar bid for compensation against the Victorian government. Justice Melinda Richards dismissed Gobbo's suit against Victoria Police and the state of Victoria, filed more than four years ago, seeking compensation for what Gobbo says was 'negligence' and 'malfeasance in public office' by a number of high-profile officers. Justice Richards found the officers named, including former police commissioner Simon Overland, did not breach a duty of care owed to the lawyer while she served as police spy because 'the risk of exposure was an inherent risk once she became an informer'. Gobbo's life as a high-profile gangland barrister came crashing down in late 2018 when it was publicly revealed she had also been secretly spying on her clients for police as 'Informer 3838' or 'Lawyer X' at the height of the underworld war. The scandal rocked Victoria Police and caused a string of gangland figures to appeal their convictions, including drug kingpin Tony Mokbel, who is now out on bail. Loading Justice Richards noted that Gobbo had already been awarded $2.88 million in a 2010 settlement with the state after her identity as a key witness in a case was inadvertently revealed in court proceedings. At the time, Gobbo's 15-year history as an informer – for which one chief commissioner called her a 'glittering prize' in the fight against organised crime – was still one of Victoria Police's most tightly guarded secrets. Justice Richards ordered Gobbo to pay the state's costs.
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Lawyer X compensation bid fails, ending multimillion-dollar legal battle
The woman at the centre of the Lawyer X scandal – barrister turned secret police informer Nicola Gobbo – has lost her multimillion-dollar bid for compensation against the Victorian government. Justice Melinda Richards dismissed Gobbo's suit against Victoria Police and the state of Victoria, filed more than four years ago, seeking compensation for what Gobbo says was 'negligence' and 'malfeasance in public office' by a number of high-profile officers. Justice Richards found the officers named, including former police commissioner Simon Overland, did not breach a duty of care owed to the lawyer while she served as police spy because 'the risk of exposure was an inherent risk once she became an informer'. Gobbo's life as a high-profile gangland barrister came crashing down in late 2018 when it was publicly revealed she had also been secretly spying on her clients for police as 'Informer 3838' or 'Lawyer X' at the height of the underworld war. The scandal rocked Victoria Police and caused a string of gangland figures to appeal their convictions, including drug kingpin Tony Mokbel, who is now out on bail. Loading Justice Richards noted that Gobbo had already been awarded $2.88 million in a 2010 settlement with the state after her identity as a key witness in a case was inadvertently revealed in court proceedings. At the time, Gobbo's 15-year history as an informer – for which one chief commissioner called her a 'glittering prize' in the fight against organised crime – was still one of Victoria Police's most tightly guarded secrets. Justice Richards ordered Gobbo to pay the state's costs.
The Age
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
God help those still working in nation's construction sector
If this is what state and federal Labor's clean-up of the nation's construction sector looks like, God help those still working in it. It's bad enough for expensive equipment on large construction sites, including an Allan government-funded social housing project, to be attacked. But in the past few weeks, the directors of three construction firms have had their family homes targeted with firebombings or violent confrontation. This suggests those in the underworld behind the violence and intimidation that for decades have stalked this vital part of our economy still believe they can operate with impunity. It also highlights the hollowness of our politicians' tired talking points when challenged about the limits of its reforms to clean up the scandal-tainted construction sector and CFMEU. Loading 'Call the police' is the political response when confronted with evidence that serious crime and corruption remains entrenched in the industry almost a year after the first Building Bad expose by this masthead and 60 Minutes. In response, police are yet to lay a single charge or stop the violence. The crooks know all too well that given law enforcement under-resourcing, the reluctance of victims to become police complainants (exposing their families to even more threats), and the difficulties in Victoria of signing up police informers (by all accounts near impossible post the Lawyer X scandal), they can operate with relative impunity.
Sydney Morning Herald
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
God help those still working in nation's construction sector
If this is what state and federal Labor's clean-up of the nation's construction sector looks like, God help those still working in it. It's bad enough for expensive equipment on large construction sites, including an Allan government-funded social housing project, to be attacked. But in the past few weeks, the directors of three construction firms have had their family homes targeted with firebombings or violent confrontation. This suggests those in the underworld behind the violence and intimidation that for decades have stalked this vital part of our economy still believe they can operate with impunity. It also highlights the hollowness of our politicians' tired talking points when challenged about the limits of its reforms to clean up the scandal-tainted construction sector and CFMEU. Loading 'Call the police' is the political response when confronted with evidence that serious crime and corruption remains entrenched in the industry almost a year after the first Building Bad expose by this masthead and 60 Minutes. In response, police are yet to lay a single charge or stop the violence. The crooks know all too well that given law enforcement under-resourcing, the reluctance of victims to become police complainants (exposing their families to even more threats), and the difficulties in Victoria of signing up police informers (by all accounts near impossible post the Lawyer X scandal), they can operate with relative impunity.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Corrupt cops flag new fight to hide identities
Two former Victoria Police officers found to have engaged in corrupt conduct have flagged they plan to launch a High Court bid to keep their identities secret. In a bombshell ruling late last year, NSW Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Fullerton found four police officers formed a 'joint criminal enterprise' with gangland barrister Nicola Gobbo to take down drug kingpin Tony Mokbel. Mokbel is appealing his 2012 conviction on drug offences following the revelation that Ms Gobbo, his longtime lawyer, was a police informant. Justice Fullerton was brought down from Sydney to avoid conflict of interest concerns and tasked with making findings on a series of 24 reference questions initiated by the Court of Appeal for Mokbel's appeal. In her judgment, Justice Fullerton found that, on the balance of probabilities, the four officers engaged in corrupt conduct during a meeting with Ms Gobbo and a client, known as Mr Cooper, who had been a drug cook. Ms Gobbo was used to help 'roll' Mr Cooper, who was convinced to provide evidence against Mokbel. Following the ruling, two of the officers sought a suppression order on their identities until their deaths, which was rejected by Justice David Beach. The officers raised 'deep concern' about the public disclosure of the court's finding, suggesting it could affect their mental health, reputation, broader lives and employment prospects. Justice Beach found the redactions sought would likely undermine confidence in the administration of justice. 'Any redactions to any judgment makes the judgment less transparent, potentially causing questions to be asked as to what else about the Lawyer X scandal is now being hidden from public view,' he said. The two officers then appealed the decision in the Court of Appeal which, on Thursday, was rejected by Chief Justice Richard Niall, Justice Karin Emerton and Justice John Forrest. But the officers were given a reprieve after their barrister, Renée Enbom KC, was granted an continuation of an interim suppression order pending filing of, or determination of, a High Court challenge. She argued to not extend the order, which prevents publishing anything that could identify the officers, would render any appeal or subsequent application for a suppression order on new grounds 'nugatory'. The two officers have 28 days to file an application for leave to appeal the decision in the High Court. Last year, Ms Gobbo sued Victoria Police alleging they breached a duty of care to her.
