Claim ex Premier Steve Bracks was “dirty” on Carl Williams because he was jealous of his popularity

Bugged calls reveal Carl Williams was shocked to be barred from Crown, with a mate attributing the ban to police and government jealousy of his ‘popularity’.

Williams and his mate joked ex Police Commissioner Christine Nixon and Premier Steve Bracks were jealous of his popularity, and ‘dirty’ on him. Picture: News Corp

Carl Williams vented his dismay at being banned from Crown Casino by Victoria’s chief commissioner to his underworld pals, bugged phone calls reveal.

During Melbourne’s gangland feud, Crown’s exclusive gambling rooms, upscale restaurants and bars attracted the likes of Williams, Mokbel and their crews.

Its security also provided a safe place to meet and do ‘business’, while it’s upstairs nightclub, Heat, was run by a mate.

It was at Crown where Williams and Andrew ‘Benji’ Veniamin had an infamous ‘peace’ meeting with Mick Gatto.

Carl Williams was dismayed to be banned from his favourite playground, Crown Casino. Picture: David Geraghty

It followed the murder of Carlton Crew member and safecracker Graham Kinniburgh in December 2003.

The anti-gangland Purana task force would use lip readers to analyse CCTV to translate what was said between the feuding parties.

That all ended on April 2, 2004, when Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon banned Williams from entering the casino’s grounds.

Williams was stung by the commissioner’s new powers, aimed at thwarting organised crime.

But he and his cohort had brought it upon themselves.

The gangland war had promoted a new era of drug lords that enjoyed notoriety.

Williams, however, in a phone call to his bodyguard on April 2, was seething.

“They banned (me) from the casino now,’’ he complained.

“You’re jokin’ . . . what, the Crown Casino?’’ his underworld mate Sean Sonnet responded.

Carl confirmed the news.

“They barred me. Christine Nixon barred me . . . for nothin’,’’ he said.

“It’ll be on the front page of the paper tomorrow because I faxed a copy to the (Herald) Sun to show them, well, how, you know, on no grounds they just barred me.’’

Sonnet suggested Williams and he would find somewhere else to go and that he should fight the ban through the courts.

Then Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon and Assistant Commissioner Simon Overland were behind the casino ban, according to Williams and Sonnet. Picture: News Corp

“But you can only appeal it back to her (Christine Nixon),’’ Williams said.

The dialogue also revealed the gangland players were acutely aware of Victoria Police’s then Assistant Commissioner of Crime, Simon Overland, who established the anti-gangland Purana task force.

They assumed Mr Overland was behind the strategy and Sonnet saw the ban as a desperate move.

“Well, it’s going . . . I think poor old Simon Overland, whatever his f***ing name is, is, like he’s shattered,’’ he said.

“He’s like, ohh, this is like, I give up. You know what I mean?’’

The big-talking Sonnet suggested that if “I ever catch up’’ with Mr Overland he’d tell the top cop to “give it away, mate’,’’.

But the Herald Sun front page sparked another phone call on April 3.

“Mate, I’m shocked . . . you’re a danger to the public, mate,’’ Sonnet told Williams.

Williams was not convinced.

“That’s not what it’s for. I don’t know what it’s for,’’ Williams argued.

Sonnet, however, persisted.

“Well, mate, you know what it says . . . it’s ‘cause it’s security of the public, right’?’’

Both men agreed the ban was in place to stop a dangerous event occurring at the casino, such as Williams being gunned down.

Victoria’s then Premier, Steve Bracks, who was mentioned in the Herald Sun article, also piqued their interest.

Crown’s high rolling Mahogany Room. Williams claimed he used to take his daughter to the casino to play downstairs. Picture: David Caird

“Did you read about that Bracks and that, mate? They’re dirty on you now,’’ Sonnet told Williams.

“You know what? It says, like, you’ve been on the news more than they are.’’

Williams, however, found it difficult to accept his favourite playground was off limits.

“They’re off their heads . . . I couldn’t believe it when they served (the ban) on me ‘cos I used to take Dhakota in there, you know, with mum, and we’d just play around downstairs.’’

Sonnet tried to lift Williams’ spirits.

“Oh, it’s f***ed buddy. You’re like more popular now than like Bracks and that . . . it sounds like he’s dirty,’’ he said.

Carl agreed: “Oh, a bit upset, huh?’’

“You should like run (for) f***ing parliament now,’’ quipped Sonnet.

It led to Williams inquiring: “Do you reckon I’d get many votes?’’

“Oh, f***ing oath, mate. I reckon I could get you a few, buddy . . . you should be Premier.’’

It pricked Williams’ ego, who would describe himself as the “the Premier’’ in calls to his wife, Roberta.