Office of the Special Investigator

The Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) is an independent statutory body that was established out of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants (Commission).

The Commission recommended the Victorian Government legislate to establish a Special Investigator to investigate whether there is sufficient evidence to establish the commission of a criminal offence or offences connected with Victoria Police’s use of Nicola Maree Gobbo as a human source.

The OSI is responsible for:

• investigating potential criminal conduct and breaches of discipline relating to the recruitment, management and use by Victoria Police of Nicola Maree Gobbo as a human source
• enabling access for the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission to all records held by the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants
• operating in accordance with Special Investigator Act 2021.

The Special Investigator

The Hon. Geoffrey Nettle AC QC was appointed as the Special Investigator in December 2021.

Justice Nettle brings more than 45 years of legal experience to the OSI, sitting as both a trial and appellate judge in the Victorian Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. He also served as a Justice of the High Court of Australia for more than 5 years.