| Gatto invoice for $300,000 was 'not paid' |
Melbourne underworld figure Mick Gatto was offered up to $1500 a week by Sydney crime identity George Alex as a retainer for "industrial relation services".
Mr Alex, appearing at the royal commission into trade union corruption in Sydney, described Mr Gatto as a "friend" and said Mr Gatto invoiced him $330,000 for his assistance. While Mr Alex claims this amount was not paid, he admitted "it could be $1500 a week ... or $4000 a month".
"It'd be cheaper to go that way rather than having an industrial relations officer working for you on salary," Mr Alex said.
Senior counsel assisting Sarah McNaughton said: "You know he's got a certain criminal history?"
Mr Alex replied: "To me, he's a free man. I'm not going to question or judge".
"And he's had a certain reputation?" Ms McNaughton said.
"Oh, that's blown up with the media, just like myself," Mr Alex said. "Are you suggesting that we judge someone? They're free men. They have the right to work."
Asked specifically what services Mr Gatto would provide, Mr Alex said he was the contact person for any workers owed entitlements from companies in Victoria.
Mr Alex explained that the services Mr Gatto would provide included notifying him if building companies in Victoria were struggling financially.
'Sometimes companies would go broke and he would understand that they are having difficulties," said Mr Alex.
"He would advise that there's a company that's looking shaky at the moment. We are hearing a lot of concerns raised by a lot of contractors. If you're working for them, then obviously you might have an issue, try to get paid and basically that's it."
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