Matthew Guy in fresh scandal over lunch with ‘heavies’

The Opposition Leader has backed Matthew Guy as questions arise over his judgment after he dined with a group who were allegedly discussing bikies, extortion and violence.

Matthew Guy was photographed having lunch with a group of ‘heavies’.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto has backed Matthew Guy’s judgment to attend a birthday party attended by a group of “heavies”.

Former Victorian Liberal Party leader Matthew Guy faces fresh questions over his judgment after being photographed at a lunch with a group who witnesses claim were discussing bikies, extortion and violence.

On Tuesday night, Mr Guy defended his attendance at the lunch, which was held to celebrate the 40th birthday of former Liberal Party candidate Michael Piastrino, saying he was not aware of who was on the guest list.

But witnesses to the lunch, held in a back room at Ricardo’s Trattoria in Albert Park on Friday, claimed some of the men at the table were openly discussing bikie infiltration of the CFMEU construction union, extortion and violence.

At one point, a witness ­alleged, one of a small group of “heavies” in the party referenced an attack where a man was shot in the face.

Matthew Guy has defended his attendance at the lunch in Albert Park. Picture: David Caird

On Wednesday, Mr Pesutto said Mr Guy attended the event to support a former Liberal candidate and didn’t know who else would be on the guest list.

He insisted that it was not a bad look for the party and it “is not an issue that we should be focusing on.”

“You’ve got to be kidding,” he said.

“Are people really concerned about Matthew Guy going to a birthday party sitting across from the six-year-old son of the host about scuttlebutt over bikie influences in the CFMEU.

“Matthew Guy goes to a birthday party but Daniel Andrews and his Labor Party is in the same political organisation as the CFMEU and people don’t have a problem with that.

“Let’s get some perspective here.”

Liberal Party leader John Pesutto says the pictures don’t raise fresh questions about Mr Guy’s integrity. Picture: David Crosling

Mr Pesutto said the pictures didn’t raise fresh questions about Mr Guy’s integrity despite his previous involvement in the “Lobster with a Mobster” scandal.

“We have to put this into context, friends,” he said.

“We’re here to serve the Victorian people and I just don’t think this story matters much, or at all, to the Victorian people.”

Mr Pesutto confirmed he wasn’t invited to the party, but said he didn’t know if any other Liberal MPs attended the event.

Mr Pesutto said he supported Mr Guy continuing as the Member for Bulleen.

“Matthew Guy is a person who has a contribution to play,” he said.

Premier Daniel Andrews said it was a matter for the Liberal Party.

“How things look, what people have done or not done, really should be put to them,” he said.

“I wasn’t there. I’m not really in a position to comment on any further. It’s not a focus of mine.

“Beyond that, the individual you’ve just mentioned (Mr Piastrino) was a candidate in my own local community and my local community passed judgement, and I’m delighted to have been re-elected in comprehensive terms by my neighbours.”

Meanwhile, senior Labor minister Danny Pearson said the Liberal Party had fresh questions to answer about Mr Guy’s judgement.

“It’s a new year and there are now new questions,” he said.

“There are a lot of questions that Mr Guy needs to answer in relation to this particular lunch and this particular event.”

Mr Pearson said there was also questions for Mr Pesutto to answer, including whether he would rule out ever bringing Mr Guy back to the front bench.

Liberal Party candidate Michael Piastrino’s election poster.

Mr Guy hadn’t been spotted at parliament on Wednesday morning.

Mr Guy has been relentlessly targeted by Labor over his so-called “lobster with a mobster” – he attended a ­secret dinner in 2017 with ­alleged mafia boss Tony Madafferi, at a bayside seafood restaurant.

Asked about last Friday’s lunch, a frustrated Mr Guy said on Tuesday night: “I went to a 40th birthday lunch for Michael ­Piastrino. Who he ­invited is his business, not mine.

“I don’t vet who he asks to his birthday. I sat opposite his six-year-old son.”

It is understood Mr Guy attended the lunch only briefly and did not speak to any of the “heavies”.

Mr Piastrino, who challenged Daniel Andrews in the seat of Mulgrave at last year’s state election, told the Herald Sun the men were friends of his.

But he vehemently ­denied any discussions took place about bikie infiltration, extortion or violence. “Nothing of that sort was discussed,” he said.

“Whoever is doing this is on a witch hunt against Matthew, which is totally unfair.”

Mr Piastrino said the lunch was one of several he had held to celebrate his milestone birthday, and that he invited Mr Guy out of a sense of respect and loyalty.

Mr Guy, who stepped down as opposition leader after November’s election ­defeat, was embroiled in controversy six years ago after it emerged he attended a Lobster Cave dinner with Mr Madafferi, a wealthy market gardener, despite repeated police allegations that he was a senior figure in Melbourne’s mafia.

An internal Liberal review into Mr Guy’s landslide 2018 state election loss found the then opposition leader’s dinner at the Beaumaris restaurant caused enormous damage to the party’s chances.

The review, led by Liberal elder statesman Tony Nutt, concluded: “It was used repeatedly and effectively to undermine him, obscure genuine concerns about community safety and protect Labor from parliamentary scrutiny.”

Hairdresser Mr Piastrino also sparked controversy last October when he declared during the election campaign that a Liberal government would get rid of “all the dodgy policies that Daniel Andrews has put through, and he will be brought to justice for the murder of 800 people”.

He later tweeted: “I wish to apologise for the inappropriate language I used in an ­interview.”