A premier has publicly backed one of her new ministers after she apologised for failing to vet locals who requested character references.
Luba Grigorovitch, who was elevated to cabinet by Premier Jacinta Allan in April, has provided 33 references for people since she was elected to parliament in late 2022.
Two were men convicted of domestic violence and sexual assault who separately challenged federal government decisions to revoke their visas for failing a character test.
Ms Grigorovitch said she shouldn't have provided references for the pair, along with another four people with chequered pasts.
The youth, carers and volunteers minister apologised for the "mistake" and said she would no longer provide references.
"We didn't have a process in place," the Kororoit MP told reporters at Victorian parliament on Tuesday.
