Talk:Nicola Gobbo

Giving evidence in Paul Dale matter
Original version not NPOV. Edited for neutrality.Garth M (talk) 23:57, 8 December 2011 (UTC)

Historical drug reference
Original version very heavily POV. Edited for neutrality. The allegation about material found in the university share house should not be in an encyclopaedic article about the subject at all, particularly if you follow the ref and find that it was housemates who were found guilty in relation to it and she was not.Garth M (talk) 23:57, 8 December 2011 (UTC)


 * It's sourced, it's relevant to the matters raised in the article, it's interesting and it would not be deleted by a user not pushing an agenda, possibly due to a close connection with the subject, I don't know. She pleaded guilty, a matter of historical record that is sourced, with the appropriate citation. Some might not like it but doesn't mean it should be deleted. Please read WP:JUSTDONTLIKEIT --Brandonfarris (talk) 07:11, 9 December 2011 (UTC)


 * It is not relevant - it's smearing her with guilt by association. She was not found guilty of anything to do with that other material. The article should accurately say what she pleaded guilty to and that's it. The rest is gilding the lily and clearly POV.


 * Oh, and I have no connection with the subject at all. Does Brandonfarris have any connection with the Herald Sun journalist who wrote the attacks on Gobbo in the first place? Garth M (talk) 20:14, 9 December 2011 (UTC)


 * Deleting the material that explains the context of why she was charged and criminally convicted is very strange and reeks of POV and a close connection with the subject (if we judge by the bizarre standards being applied above). I will restore it so the gravity of the matters in which the subject was involved are correctly explained. Those with an intimate connection with the subject won't like it but that's not a reason for its deletion, as policy clearly mandates WP:JUSTDONTLIKEIT --Brandonfarris (talk) 21:40, 9 December 2011 (UTC)
 * Support including this information because it provides background about her.--Jack Upland (talk) 01:11, 11 December 2019 (UTC)
 * This is the key to how things developed and needs to be in there. She had reasons to fear for her future career and losing that house. People try everything for not being struck out for a career and keeping a house. She was also young and in the carefree age when you do such things. Her partner now is behind bars for drugs - it's obviously become more than a youthful incident. That the other people in the house confessed ..... well they'd do that, wouldn't they. 2001:8003:A070:7F00:D140:E188:CB98:B77F (talk) 05:06, 28 June 2023 (UTC)

From California Sunday Magazine, January 2020, https://story.californiasunday.com/lawyer-x-melbourne : "Gobbo hadn’t lied to Abramson about her 1993 arrest, not exactly. That August, after an anonymous tip, the police had begun weeks of surveillance on a house belonging to Gobbo — “said to be the niece of Justice Gobbo of the Supreme Court” — a report noted. The focus of the investigation was a suspected drug dealer named Brian Wilson, with whom Gobbo was “living in a de facto relationship.” A raid turned up 3 pounds of amphetamines, nearly a pound of marijuana, and a cache of weapons. Wilson and another man were arrested at the house; the police picked up Gobbo at the university. All three were charged with drug possession and pleaded guilty. Gobbo received probation and a “good-behavior bond,” expunging her record after a year. Left out of Gobbo’s account was the fact that two years later, the police had raided the house again, finding another stash of speed. This time, Gobbo was frantic, telling an officer that another drug charge could keep her from being admitted to the bar. The officers on the scene that day have since claimed not to recall the precise moment when Gobbo became a source. But no charges were filed against her, and shortly afterward, she was officially registered as police informer G395. Her initial information concerned the continued dealings of her semi-estranged boyfriend, Wilson."

The full story implies that the police used these incidents as leverage to recruit her as an informant.Banchang (talk) 06:51, 4 February 2020 (UTC)


 * Yes, it's an important part of the story.--Jack Upland (talk) 22:12, 4 February 2020 (UTC)


 * This talk page section was first posted in 2011, when she was still a practicing barrister and before the Lawyer X scandal broke. It's obviously relevant now given how much it featured in that. The Drover&#39;s Wife (talk) 05:41, 5 February 2020 (UTC)

BLP noticeboard.
See Biographies of living persons/Noticeboard. Clearly an outside opinion is needed. -- Mattinbgn (talk) 06:16, 12 December 2011 (UTC)
 * Agreed --Brandonfarris (talk) 06:24, 12 December 2011 (UTC)

This is the article as it was before it was substantially deleted. --Brandonfarris (talk) 06:36, 12 December 2011 (UTC) {Infobox person }} Nicola Gobbo is a prominent Melbourne criminal lawyer.
 * name       = Nicola Gobbo
 * image      =
 * alt        =
 * caption    =
 * birth_name =
 * birth_date =
 * birth_place =
 * death_date =
 * death_place =
 * nationality = Australian
 * other_names =
 * known_for  = being a Police informant
 * occupation = lawyer

Gobbo first came to public attention when, while a member of the Australian Labor Party she claimed that a member of the Liberal party had forged a letter purportedly from Jeff Kennett complaining to the federal Liberals about funding cuts to state governments in order to cause a Labor campaign gaffe, if they used it. The then Treasurer, Ralph Willis used the forged document, without thoroughly checking its veracity, one of many factors in its unsuccessful 1996 federal election campaign.

She initiated legal proceedings, claiming $20 million, against Victoria Police over her claim they had breached an agreement to provide her security, which were settled out of court. She has recently come to public attention over media claims of her close connection with Underworld figures and her willingness to give evidence against some of them. It was revealed by the Herald Sun in 2011 that Gobbo had forged close social relationships with notorious Melbourne criminal figures Gobbo recently withdrew from giving evidence in the prosecution of Paul Dale after allegations of death threats.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Gobbo pleaded guilty in 1993 to drug offences after a Police raid on her home found "three pounds of amphetamines with a street value of $82,000 (and) three-quarters of a pound of cannabis with a street value of $3000" at the Carlton house where she lived, as well as "a large quantity of stolen property and a number of proscribed weapons." No conviction was recorded, though Gobbo was placed on a good behavior bond.

She is the sister of a Melbourne barrister, Jeremy Gobbo QC. She is also the niece of the former Governor of Victoria Sir James Gobbo

I propose to add the following:

She initiated legal proceedings, claiming $20 million, against Victoria Police over her claim they had breached an agreement to provide her security, which were settled out of court. She has recently come to public attention over media claims of her close connection with Underworld figures and her willingness to give evidence against some of them. It was revealed by the Herald Sun in 2011 that Gobbo had forged close social relationships with notorious Melbourne criminal figures Gobbo recently withdrew from giving evidence in the prosecution of Paul Dale after allegations of death threats.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Gobbo pleaded guilty in 1993 to drug offences after a Police raid on her home found "three pounds of amphetamines with a street value of $82,000 (and) three-quarters of a pound of cannabis with a street value of $3000" at the Carlton house where she lived, as well as "a large quantity of stolen property and a number of proscribed weapons." No conviction was recorded, though Gobbo was placed on a good behavior bond.

--Brandonfarris (talk) 11:27, 12 December 2011 (UTC)


 * (20th Dec) The BLP discussion is archived here.
 * On that 1993 plea: the authorities treated it fairly lightly, so we should do the same absent startling new developments. In fact, I say that mentioning it in the article would probably be a WP:BLP violation; please Don't Do That.
 * Cheers, CWC 13:07, 20 December 2011 (UTC)
 * There have been some startling new developments.--Jack Upland (talk) 01:38, 11 December 2019 (UTC)

I added a brief paragraph on her testimony in the police corruption case
I added a brief paragraph on her testimony in the police corruption case.

I understand that some contributors feel there are BLP concerns in various versions of this article. But they haven't been clear as to how the material they excised violates BLP. I request they make a greater effort to do so. Meanwhile I think the brief paragraph I added is policy-compliant. Geo Swan (talk) 22:23, 13 December 2011 (UTC)
 * Your paragraph is fine. My concerns regagrding BLP concerns with other material have been made quite clear at the BLP noticeboard link at the section above. What do you find unclear about them? -- 02:51, 14 December 2011 (UTC)

20-Dec-2011
When I came across this article I was sufficiently unhappy with it to spend hours on this edit. I think I've improved the article, but there sure is lots of room for further improvement. Given Ms Gobbo's clear WikiNotablity, WP:BLP and common decency require those who edit here to be especially careful. (Experience with controversial BLPs strongly recommended.) CWC 13:35, 20 December 2011 (UTC)

Here are a few problems I noticed:


 * We should never use sites like http://www.gwb.com.au/gwb/news/pc/kennet1.htm as sources in a BLP. I considered deleting it and relying on http://newsstore.theage.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=news960502_0193_5431 but the gwb.com.au page does have more detail and does not (AFAICT) slander Ms Gobbo. Can someone please find a better source? CWC 13:35, 20 December 2011 (UTC)


 * I did not put much thought into the headings I added. If you think you can do better, I'm sure you're right. CWC 13:35, 20 December 2011 (UTC)


 * I changed the "known for" item in the infobox from "being a Police informant" to "corruption cases", which is deliberately vague. We should drop the item or use something better. Maybe "Witness in police corruption cases"? CWC 13:35, 20 December 2011 (UTC)

Please feel free to comment on each bullet point. (That's why I've signed them.) CWC 13:35, 20 December 2011 (UTC)