Neil Mitchell lets fly at testimonial lunch after early departure by Albanese

The prime minister came to Melbourne to deliver a toast at a lunch in honour of Neil Mitchell on Friday – but the legendary broadcaster returned the favour with a roast.

Anthony Albanese was 35 minutes late – possibly due to the city’s infamous roadworks – to the former 3AW Mornings host’s thank you lunch (the terms farewell or retirement were banned).

Neil Mitchell flanked by the prime minister and opposition leader at his testimonial lunchCredit: Justin McManus

But he was full of praise for the journalist. “He is someone who has never been a hectorer but has very strong views,” Albanese said.

“Someone whom even in a difficult interview would always allow you to put your view but would tell you often why he thought you were wrong but would engage in a way that to me was very reasonable.”

But Albanese left before the guest of honour could deliver his speech.

“That’s why the prime minister had to leave – he knows what’s coming,” Mitchell, 72, joked when he took to the stage in a room beneath Melbourne Town Hall.

“First the apologies – Dan Andrews, the former premier would love to be here but he wasn’t invited,” Mitchell continued, referring to his long-standing feud with Andrews. He noted that deputy premier Ben Carroll was in attendance.

“The state Treasurer Tim Pallas apologises – but what to apologise for? $200 billion (of debt) would be a start.

“Tony Abbott is overseas, he’s probably reprogramming Fox News at this moment. Bill Shorten … probably pulled out when he found that there weren’t going to be any knives on his table as a request from the prime minister.”

Some in the audience winced. But those in the know could see that Mitchell’s carving up on his audience was merely a continuation of his famous year-end long lunches at Lamaro’s Hotel in South Melbourne.

Three AFL chief executives Gillon McLachlan, Andrew Dillon and Andrew Demetriou.Credit: Justin McManus

Many thought he toned down the burns for public consumption.

“State Opposition Leader John Pesutto is here – another mess up. John actually thought he was going to his own farewell as leader. That’s next week Brad, isn’t it,” said Mitchell acknowledging opposition police spokesman and potential leadership challenger Brad Battin.

There was also an acknowledgment of many of Mitchell’s former staff. “It’s amazing how much healthier they all look.”

Mitchell sat between the prime minister and federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Also at the top table was Peter Costello, chairman of Nine Entertainment, the owners of 3AW and The Age, and former AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan who also gave toasts.

“It is not really my go – the PM giving me a toast for God’s sake,” Mitchell told The Age.

“I worked seven days in a row recently … But I wasn’t getting up at 4am and I was working at my own pace.”

Mitchell is a former Age reporter who covered Bob Hawke’s time in the unions, and later editor of the afternoon paper The Herald until Rupert Murdoch bought it in 1987.

He was at lunch with 3AW talkback king Derryn Hinch who advised him to fill in on his morning slot for two weeks. Mitchell eventually inherited the morning slot and won 222 ratings surveys in a row.

Businessman Lindsay Fox and Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police Shane Patton.Credit: Justin McManus

He once came back from holidays because Australia changed prime ministers.

Now he is spreading his wings. He has his regular interview podcast Neil Mitchell Asks Why, has written some news stories, is doing radio slots and is set for a regular gig on Seven’s Sunrise.

Listening in the crowd was Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton in a suit, while billionaire Lindsay Fox wore a suit and sneakers and brought along a bottle of whisky for the guest of honour.

At one point he patted Dutton on the back – while the opposition leader was later seen chatting animatedly to Animal Justice Party upper house MP Georgie Purcell, one of the few women in the audience.

Mitchell, the former newspaper editor who became Melbourne’s central voice for decades, left his audience with one final editorial.

“What the hell is happening to this country? The hate, the aggression in debate. You can’t disagree with people now without being mocked or abused. Now a lot of things are better than they used to be, I’m not that much of a silly old bugger. But media and politics are not.”

He criticised the superficiality and self-obsession of many politicians rather than the national interest and the media for being part of that game.

“We should all be on the same page. Politicians, reporters, business, everybody. We all want the best for the country. But we really are we’re on the same boat. We want to fix the health system. We want to get a healthy economy that everybody shares in,” he said.

“We want the workers to get a fair deal, we want the streets safe. And we want the government to remember it works for people not the media critics.”

After 55 years in journalism, and 36 years and nearly 27,000 hours of morning radio, it is an end and a new beginning for Mitchell. It is hard to imagine the city over the past three decades without him.

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