Luba Grigorovitch, who was elevated to cabinet by Premier Jacinta Allan in April, has provided references for 33 people since she was elected to parliament in late 2022.
Two were for 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 the two references, along with another four.
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.
"People would ask for a character reference. I took them on face value and I provided a character reference.
"I should have done more before giving those character references."
The references were provided to volunteers and members of the local community who were applying for jobs, housing or awards, she said.
Ms Grigorovitch denied not knowing the people personally and said she did not realise the issue until recently contacted by a journalist.
"I have spoken to my office and today we plan on rescinding those references," she said.
Ms Grigorovitch claimed many MPs gave character references but fellow minister Harriet Shing said she did not.
"Without being able to understand the extent of somebody's character their entire lives and the work that they do, it's very difficult for me to make an in-depth assessment," Ms Shing said.
Shadow attorney-general James Newbury argued Ms Grigorovitch was not fit to be a minister and should be sacked.
"For a new member to have admitted to giving out 33 character references would probably go beyond what any member of parliament would ... have ever given out," he said.
"For her to acknowledge that at least half a dozen were dodgy ... says to you that she has a very, very poor judgment."
Victorian Greens leader Ellen Sandell agreed 33 character references in fewer than four years was a "huge amount".
"It is a matter of common sense and good judgment that you should not be providing character references to people that you don't know," she said.
The Victorian Liberals were embroiled in a similar scandal earlier in 2026 when businessman and Indian community leader Dinesh Gourisetty withdrew from upper house preselection after it emerged he previously provided a character reference for a now-convicted child sex offender.
It paved the way for first-term MP Moira Deeming to retain top spot on the party's ticket for the Western Metropolitan Region at the state election in November.
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