A special investigator will investigate if there's enough evidence to charge gangland informer Nicola Gobbo and Victoria Police officers over the Lawyer X saga.
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The appointment of the investigator was among 110 recommendations made by commissioner Margaret McMurdo in her final report on the long-running scandal, tabled in state parliament on Monday.
She said the fact police were able to secure convictions with Ms Gobbo's help could be seen as a positive.
"That view, while understandable, overlooks the far-reaching and detrimental consequences of the conduct of Ms Gobbo and Victoria Police," she said.
Attorney-General Jill Hennessy says all the recommendations will be adopted and work will begin immediately to appoint a special investigator to consider criminal charges, or disciplinary charges in the case of still-serving officers.
Ms McMurdo said Ms Gobbo was encouraged in her behaviour by police and now lived in fear of being murdered, while many or all the officers associated with the failed system had otherwise exemplary careers.
"If the DPP determines that it is in the public interest to prosecute, those charged will receive a fair trial according to law, unlike those whose trials were corrupted by their conduct," she said.
Ms Hennessy said steps would also be taken to ensure appeals were heard quickly and efficiently.
"What we've seen and learnt throughout this royal commission over the past two years is truly appalling," she said.
She acknowledged it could be a lengthy process, noting a similar inquiry in Queensland had prosecutions still happening almost 12 years later.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton apologised again on behalf of the force for the "indefensible interference" into the lawyer-client relationship.
While police were grappling with extraordinary circumstances at the time, he said the end did not justify the means.
Police will establish Taskforce Reset to lead its response to the royal commission.
Mr Patton said what happened with Ms Gobbo could never happen again, but he didn't rule out police using informers who owe professional privilege in future.
"That would never be a circumstance such as this, and they would never be giving or having evidence used against a client they are representing," he said.
The commission identified 1011 people whose cases might have been affected by the conduct of Ms Gobbo or police.
The final report also revealed police used up to two dozen other informers from the legal field, and 31 who owed other types of confidentiality obligations, including nurses and government workers.
Twelve informer files from between 1990 and 2016, involving people in the legal field, were reviewed. Victoria Police refused to hand over another 11, labelling them "extremely sensitive". An independent auditor will be appointed to examine those.
The report highlights several case studies, including some Ms Gobbo herself identified as her biggest moments.
The case of drug kingpin Tony Mokbel revealed the sheer volume of information Ms Gobbo handed over, with details about properties, associates, code names and defence tactics in his trials.
She noted the wide-ranging impact of Ms Gobbo's informing in the tomato tins case, which resulted in 32 convictions.
"Remarkably, Ms Gobbo acted for at least 10 of these people, after having provided police with information that may have led to them being charged," she said.
More than half, including ringleaders Rob Karam and Pasquale Barbaro, have appeals underway.
Ms McMurdo acknowledged the overturning of convictions for Faruk Orman and Zlate Cvetanovski as a result of Ms Gobbo's informing.
Ms McMurdo found Ms Gobbo's conduct was extensive, sustained and inexcusable, undermining the administration of justice, compromising convictions and damaging the standing of Victoria Police.
She has recommended Ms Gobbo's name be removed from the Victorian Bar's list of retired barristers within three months, given the symbolism of the bar roll.
Ms McMurdo accepted Victoria Police's claim the high-profile slaying of Jason Moran and his bodyguard - another Pasquale Barbaro - was important context ahead of Ms Gobbo's 2005 registration.
But she found the conduct of several unnamed current and former officers was apt to bring the force into disrepute.
More than 100 people within Victoria Police knew Ms Gobbo was an informer, but did nothing.
She highlighted the pervasive and negative cultural emphasis from the top down, on getting results, without sufficient regard to the consequences.
Other recommendations include independent external oversight of Victoria Police with human sources, a clear legislated framework on the registration and use of human sources, and assurances of appropriate funding for corruption watchdog IBAC.
Australian Associated Press
