‘Complete rubbish’: Sam Newman, underworld figure drop bomb

Sam Newman has aired an extraordinary “conspiracy theory” and hit out over a video showing him with an infamous Melbourne figure.

Sam Newman has taken issue at his portrayal in a television news story, spiralling into an explosive interview with Melbourne underworld figure Mick Gatto.

Newman on Monday released his latest podcast which features a conversation with Gatto after the surviving figure from Melbourne’s infamous gangland wars was mentioned in a 60 Minutes exposé into alleged corruption within the CFMEU.

It comes as the Coalition on Monday promised to implement a federal taskforce to investigate ongoing criminal allegations linked to the union giant.

The 69-year-old has told Newman allegations made by Geoffrey Watson SC in the 60 Minutes report were “complete and utter rubbish”.

Watson said in the report Gatto “sits at the centre of the web... spreading all over the construction industry in Victoria”.

Gatto responded in the podcast by insisting he had done nothing wrong.

“As far as me being the head honcho and the spider in the web, pulling all the strings or whatever, did you see evidence,?” Gatto asked.

“If I’ve done something wrong, charge me. Come and charge me. I’ve done nothing wrong.”

Newman said he invited Gatto to appear on his You Cannot Be Serious podcast for the third time in the past four years because of a clip played on Channel 9 that showed the former Geelong footballer ogling a parked Rolls Royce that Gatto was sitting in.

Gatto told Newman he had no money to hide.

“I pay my taxes every year and let me tell you, I pay a lot of tax,” he said.

“And yeah, I drive a Rolls Royce and I wear a diamond ring and I smoke a cigar. I’ve worked hard for it. Now you go and get a KC or a top surgeon, they cost you a fortune. Well you want my services you gotta pay for them.”

Sam Newman and Mick Gatto. Photo: Facebook, @SmartASSam.

The clip played by Nine, as first shared by Newman on his social media channel in December, 2023, was introduced by journalist Nick McKenzie by saying Gatto gives interviews “to those who follow his scripts”.

Newman told Gatto that comment is why he asked his “friend” to re-appear on the podcast.

“That’s vaguely how I got in to asking you to come in because on 60 Minutes there was a picture of me standing outside your Rolls Royce,” Newman said.

“That was completely cherry picked. I think I was looking at your number plate because I had Peter Bartels in here, who has got number one in Victoria, that’s his number plate. And you had a Rolls Royce. What’s your number plate? No. 5? That’s right. I interviewed you on a different matter and they used that.”

Newman defended himself for inviting a colourful Melbourne identity onto his show by telling listeners he was trying to play “devil’s advocate” and voiced worries about what the interview will do to his reputation.

“I’m not swallowing anything you say. I’m just asking you the questions,” Newman said.

Screen shots of Sam Newman interview with Mick Gatto for The Footy Show.

Gatto is among Newman’s most controversial interview subjects. The 79-year-old last month faced public calls for him to be stripped of his “legend status” in the AFL Hall of Fame because of the appearance of neo-Nazi pair Blair Cottrell and Thomas Sewell on his podcast.

Gatto in 2004 shot dead Melbourne gangland figure Andrew Veniamin. A Supreme Court jury later acquitted Gatto of murder on the basis of self-defence.

Newman said he considers Gatto a friend. In April, 2024, the former Footy Show co-host reportedly raised $16,000 for Gatto’s personal charity when auctioning a yachting adventure with himself as the captain.

According to reports, the annual gala raised $1.7 million for the Equal Access For Autism charity sponsored by Gatto and his wife Cheryl. Their grandson, Dominic, is autistic.

Gatto also attended the funeral held for Newman’s wife Amanda in 2021.

“I’m not going to defend you, but I will say you’ve always been fair and you’ve always let me have my say where all these other media outlets don’t,” Gatto says in the podcast.

Meanwhile, Newman says early in the podcast he has a “conspiracy theory” about why the allegations towards Gatto have been made publicly.

Mick Gatto kisses Sam Newman. Photo: YouTube.

Newman appears to reference budget forecasts that show Victorian state debt will rise to $187.8 billion by 2027-28.

“This is my conspiracy theory,” he said.

“I reckon this is indirectly something to do with the fact that this government is 200 billion dollars in the debt and most of it because of the suburban rail loop and the tunnel and all the works that are going on – and they’re after some sort of scapegoat as to why the debt has blown out.

“And of course the CFMEU and you (Gatto) get associated. Directly and indirectly. And I reckon it’s their ambivalence to take any action or to say they’re going to play merry hell with a big stick and they do absolutely nothing and I reckon this is all a part of what’s going on. That is my conspiracy theory.”

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan on Monday denied any allegations of corruption on Big Build worksites had been covered up.

Coalition leader Peter Dutton on Monday also called for the “militant” CFMEU union to be deregistered.

The Opposition Leader said allegations of criminal infiltration, standover tactics, bullying and corruption at the CFMEU was the “biggest corruption scandal in our country”.

There is no suggestion Gatto is linked to the alleged corruption inside the powerful union.

Originally published as ‘Complete rubbish’: Sam Newman, underworld figure drop bomb