Premier Daniel Andrews abruptly left a charity event once he found out alleged underworld figure Mick Gatto was also in the room.
The function held last week was a fundraising dinner for Father Bob Maguire's community work and also marked his 83rd birthday.
![Daniel Andrews left the party early.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170914055203im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/y/e/z/4/n/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gyexpm.png/1505132810930.jpg)
The Age understands Mr Andrews had been scheduled to speak at the event but chose to leave instead. Â
Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten also attended the charity function.
![Mick Gatto.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170914055203im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/u/x/c/4/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gyexpm.png/1505132810930.jpg)
The premier's decision comes after Opposition Leader Matthew Guy was criticised for remaining at a lobster dinner with alleged mafia boss Tony Madafferi.
Police have banned Mr Madafferi from Crown Casino and he has been accused in court of being a member of Melbourne's mafia.Â
However, he has never been charged with any crimes and denies wrongdoing.
Victorian Attorney-General Martin Pakula told 3AW the fundraiser was a public event and tickets cost nearly $300.
![Illustration: Ron Tandberg.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170914055203im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/y/f/e/4/6/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gyexpm.png/1505178118380.jpg)
"The premier was there with hundreds of other people," he said.
Mr Pakula said Mr Andrews had not wanted to risk talking to Mr Gatto.
"He probably didn't want to be in the same room as him and risk having him come up to him and have a conversation with him."
A spokesman for Mr Shorten said he arrived just before he gave a speech and left straight afterwards.Â
"Bill wanted to pay tribute to the remarkable work of Father Bob Maguire," he said.
"This night was about Father Bob and no one else."
Mr Gatto said he was invited to the birthday event because of the fundraising he'd done on behalf of the Father Bob Maguire Foundation in the past.
"Father Bob supports me and I support him," Mr Gatto said.Â
"All this is causing the focus to shift from why we were actually there – raising money for homeless and underprivileged people – to what politicians were walking in and out of the room. It's not like I met or spoke to them."
A foundation spokesman said "anyone was welcome" at Father Bob's birthday celebrations.
"It's a public event. We don't discriminate against anyone who wants to celebrate the good work Father Bob has done over the years".
Mr Gatto has previously raised nearly $100,000 for Father Bob's charitable foundation.