Eddie McGuire has become emotional while defending the spending of $1.6 million of taxpayer money on Shane Warne’s star-studded state memorial service.

Documents obtained by The Age under freedom of information show the memorial was almost triple the cost of the second most expensive service – the farewell for four police officers killed on the Eastern Freeway — and Eddie McGuire’s production company, JAM TV, received over $1 million to stage and produce the event.

Speaking to Tony Jones, filling in for Neil Mitchell, McGuire said the show was produced “on the smell of an oily rag”.

Press PLAY below to hear Eddie’s emotional response to questions about the memorial cost 

McGuire blasted The Age for failing to contact him for comment before publishing an article revealing how much his company was paid for its part in the service.

“It’s interesting, because The Age is about 45 steps from the Footy Classified office,” he said.

“To have a smart alec line item in there that pointed at me as if I’ve put a million dollars in my pocket — Please! As if!”

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