Mick Gatto Files Defamation Suit Against Geoffrey Watson
Underworld figure Mick Gatto has initiated defamation proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court against Sydney barrister Geoffrey Watson. Gatto alleges that Watson defamed him during a segment of Nine's 60 Minutes, which aired on March 16 last year.
Gatto's legal representatives claim that the broadcast conveyed several false and defamatory statements. Specifically, they allege that Watson's remark during the interview, stating, "When I started conducting this inquiry, it felt to me like I was watching an episode of The Sopranos," implied that Gatto is a "murderous member of the mafia." While Gatto was mentioned elsewhere in the segment, he was not directly referenced in the 'Sopranos' comparison.
Mick Gatto's legal team asserts that a "Sopranos" comparison made by Geoffrey Watson on 60 Minutes falsely depicted Gatto as a "murderous member of the mafia."
Allegations of Influence and Misconduct
When asked by journalist Nick McKenzie about Gatto's role in the construction sector, Watson responded, "Well, he's right at the top. He's the master. Now, everything flows from him. He sits at the centre of the web. This web is spreading all over the construction industry in Victoria."
Gatto's lawyers assert that the broadcast conveyed ten defamatory claims, including that Gatto "is responsible for the corruption and serious criminal conduct that has spread within the CFMEU" and "uses extreme violence and intimidation to obtain money from people within the construction industry."
Background of the Inquiry
Watson was appointed by the then-CFMEU national secretary Zach Smith in 2024 to investigate alleged criminal wrongdoing. Additionally, Mark Irving, KC, who was appointed as administrator to the CFMEU's construction and general division, also tasked Watson with investigating violence within the union's Queensland operations as part of a state commission of inquiry.
Gatto's Previous Legal Challenges
This marks another defamation case for Gatto. In 2021, he lost a lawsuit against the ABC concerning a 2019 article titled "Gangland figure Mick Gatto threatened to kill police Informer 3838, court told." The Victorian Supreme Court ruled in favor of the ABC, concluding that the alleged meanings were not conveyed. Gatto's subsequent appeals were unsuccessful.
In 2021, Mick Gatto lost a defamation lawsuit against the ABC, with his subsequent appeals also proving unsuccessful.
Profile: Mick Gatto
Gatto, 70, is recognized as a notable Melbourne underworld figure, a former boxer, debt collector, and "mediator." He was acquitted of murder in 2005 on grounds of self-defense after shooting Andrew Veniamin. In 2002, he denied accusations of being a "standover man" during an appearance before the Royal Commission into the Building and Construction Industry.