Police informer Nicola Gobbo to hide face while giving evidence during inquiry

Lawyer turned informer Nicola Gobbo's face won't be shown when she gives evidence to a royal commission into her snitching.

She's due to give evidence by videolink starting tomorrow, but only Commissioner Margaret McMurdo will see what she looks like.

Her lawyer Rishi Nathwani was backed by Victoria Police in an application today for her image to be hidden.

But the reasons behind the application were presented in confidential submissions, including in a statement from Assistant Commissioner Neil Paterson.

Lawyers for several media organisations tried to challenge the order, arguing her image is already notorious and that she voluntarily did a televised media interview in December.

Unless she had fundamentally changed her image since that interview the application should be refused, it was argued.

Ms McMurdo however said it was in the interest of justice, particularly given safety concerns for Ms Gobbo and her family, that she made the order.

"I order Ms Gobbo's image during her evidence to the commission be recorded but not streamed or made publicly available, and that only I see her image while she is giving evidence," she said.

Ms Gobbo is expected to begin her evidence tomorrow morning.