Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy. Credit:Justin McManus "I have broken no laws." Mr Guy has said he did not know Mr Madafferi would be at the dinner, until he was introduced to "cousin Tony" at the table. But The Age on Tuesday afternoon revealed that secretly recorded phone calls directly contradict Mr Guy's claims that he had no idea he was meeting the alleged Mafia boss. Mr Guy conceded the name Antonio Madafferi was given to his office ahead of the dinner, but said it did not "trigger any alarm bells". The name was not passed on to him, Mr Guy said.

Alleged Melbourne Mafia boss Tony Madafferi. Credit:Jason South "There is a judgment issue you might have with me about attending a function or indeed staying at a function with Tony Madafferi. I accept that." "You're there, you're there. The dinner did not last long," he said. Mr Guy earlier said: "If I'd been there two minutes the same story would have run." He has repeatedly denied discussing political donations at the dinner.

"It's been inferred I went there seeking money. That is completely and utterly false," he said. Mr Guy said he was "absolutely 100 per cent" certain no donations had been received after the dinner. "I hope there will be confirmation from IBAC that none of my conduct was indeed improper." Mr Madafferi, a wealthy market gardener and the owner of the La Porchetta pizza chain, has repeatedly been accused by police in court of being a high-ranking member of Melbourne's Mafia. Mr Guy said Liberal Party member and Executive Member of AUSVEG Victoria, Frank Lamattina, invited him to meet his cousins to discuss the new Epping market.

Mr Guy said there were at least 10 people at the table. "When I got there people introduced themselves by their first names and there were so many first names I could not remember." He said he ate a plate of seafood but it cost much less than $500. Mr Guy said he was concerned about the processes in his office that failed to alert him to Mr Madafferi's attendance. "We will make steps to remedy that." However, he said the recording and subsequent reporting of the telephone conversation did ring alarm bells and he would refer that to IBAC. Mr Guy said he hoped IBAC would clear him of any wrongdoing. "It's a rare thing for a politician to say here it is. Look at what you like. I'll tell you whatever you want to know'. I'm saying that".

The Opposition Leader also denied the meeting weakened his law and order credentials, a central part of the Coalition's political strategy. Deputy Premier James Merlino later said Mr Guy's "credibility is in tatters". Mr Merlino said he was not aware of anyone in his party "dining out" with Mr Madafferi and described Mr Guy's self-referral to IBAC as a "desperate act from a desperate leader". Loading "I certainly haven't [dined with Mr Madafferi], and I'm not aware of any of my colleagues dining out with a known organised crime figure," he said.

"Matthew Guy knew exactly what he was doing and he was caught out today."