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Hundreds of mourners are arriving at St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne to farewell entertainment legend Bert Newton at his state funeral.

The man affectionately known as "Moonface" died aged 83 on November 30 after his leg was amputated in May due to a life-threatening infection.

The Catholic requiem mass will be broadcast live on television networks Nine, Seven and Ten.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is attending the service, as is Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, while Premier Daniel Andrews will give a tribute on behalf of Victorians.

Dozens of TV and radio personalities are attending the mass including Andy Lee, Peter Hitchener, Sam Newman, Denis Walter and Tom Elliott.

Musical theatre star Rhonda Burchmore will read a passage from the Bible. Eddie McGuire will give a eulogy and broadcaster Philip Brady will read an Irish blessing.

Bert Newton's children, Lauren and Matthew, have written messages that will be read at the service. Matthew is in the US and won't attend in person.

Melbourne-born Newton started in radio aged 12 and scaled the heights of the Australian entertainment industry on stage and on screen.

Alongside Graham Kennedy and Don Lane, he was part of a trio known as The Kings of Australian Television.

A stalwart of Australian theatre, Newton performed in Beauty and the Beast, The Sound of Music, Annie, The Rocky Horror Show, Grease and Wicked.

Several Melbourne theatres dimmed their lights for one minute at 7.30pm on Thursday to honour Newton's contribution to the industry.

"Bert was a great professional and an esteemed colleague and friend," Her Majesty's Theatre owner Mike Walsh said.

Theatre producer John Frost said he was a "wonderful mentor to young performers".

"Thank you Bert for all the laughs over the years; our industry is a lonelier place without you," he said.

The four-time Logie winner mentored comedians Adam Hills and Rove McManus, who each remembered him in tributes on social media.

"Bert Newton was the ultimate entertainer. Australian TV wouldn't be what it is without Bert. It's up to us all to take what he taught us, and keep his spirit alive," Hills said on Twitter.

McManus said he had lost a "mentor and friend" and Australia had "lost an icon".

"But most importantly a family has lost their hero and soul mate. Sending love to all the Newtons, especially Patti. My heart is broken. Rest In Power, Albert Watson Newton," he said on Twitter.

Newton is survived by Patti, his wife of more than 46 years, his children and grandchildren.

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Entertainment legend Bert Newton has been remembered as a consummate showman and loving husband and father at a state funeral held in Melbourne.

Hundreds of mourners attended the two-hour service at St Patrick's Cathedral, including dozens of TV and radio personalities as well as Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Outside the cathedral, members of the public gathered in the rain to pay tribute to the man affectionately known as "Moonface", who died aged 83 on October 30.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews spoke ahead of the Catholic requiem mass, telling the mourners Newton was someone Australians all felt they knew.

"Like a fireplace on a cold night, families would gather around their TV sets, drawn in by Bert's warmth and sustained by his inviting ease," he said.

"While he was first beamed into our homes in black and white, Bert was colour TV long before the technology arrived."

Mr Andrews said everyone could be certain the entertainer's credits would "roll on and on and on".

Molly Meldrum and Daryl Somers were among many from the entertainment industry at the service, along with Glenn Robbins, Andy Lee, Peter Hitchener, Sam Newman and Denis Walter.

Newton's son Matthew is in the US and could not attend. But in a letter, read out at the service, he noted that while his dad was well known as a great entertainer, he "wouldn't just be around for the laughs".

"Those close to him experienced how he'd show up in the tough times too. No one more than me," he said.

Daughter Lauren said in her letter that saying goodbye was heartbreaking, especially for her mother Patti.

"They loved one another so much, and I know how he waited until she left the room to take his last breath because while she was with him, he couldn't have gone," she said.

She said her father had loved watching his six grandchildren perform concerts, introducing each one as though he was at the Logies.

Silvie Paladino sang the national anthem and Anthony Callea sang a prayer.

Eddie McGuire gave the eulogy, describing the entertainer's upbringing in a rough part of Melbourne in the 1950s, having lost his father at 11.

"Seventy years ago, could that young boy have dreamt of what was in front of him?" he said.

Melbourne-born Newton started in radio aged 12 and scaled the heights of the Australian entertainment industry on stage and on screen.

Alongside Graham Kennedy and Don Lane, he was part of a trio known as The Kings of Australian Television.

A stalwart of Australian theatre, Newton performed in Beauty and the Beast, The Sound of Music, Annie, The Rocky Horror Show, Grease and Wicked.

Newton is survived by Patti, his wife of more than 46 years, his children and grandchildren.

© AAP 2021

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Accused drug lord Mostafa Baluch's stint as a fugitive is over, flying back to Sydney from the Gold Coast shackled and under police guard.

Baluch's desperate bid for freedom ended when he was found hiding in a grey Mercedes concealed in a shipping container being transported on the back of a truck.

He had been on the run from police when nabbed during a botched bid to cross the Queensland border on Wednesday morning.

Sixteen days earlier, he cut off an ankle monitor while on bail and sparked "one of the largest fugitive hunts in the country".

Police allege he was planning to flee overseas from Queensland.

Queensland officers searched dozens of trucks over the past few days, zeroing in on the container after noticing it wasn't properly secured.

After a night in the Southport Watchhouse, Baluch's extradition hearing was held on Thursday.

Unvaccinated for COVID-19, Baluch remained in isolation and unable to appear in court so listened to the proceedings by phone.

Lawyer Nicholas Andrews consented to the extradition application without objection.

Wearing prison greens, with hand and leg restraints, Baluch left the Southport watchhouse about 1pm escorted by tactical police for his long-awaited return to NSW.

He was taken to Coolangatta Airport and flown by PolAir6 - a Cessna Grand Caravan - to Bankstown Airport.

Baluch is due to be transferred to the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre and face further charges by Organised Crime Squad detectives.

He is expected to face Sydney's Central Local Court on Friday.

Before his arrest in Queensland, the accused kingpin was last seen in Bayview on Sydney's northern beaches on October 25, days after being granted bail.

He was released on strict conditions, including $4 million surety on his waterfront home at Bayview.

Baluch is charged with a string of drug offences related to a 900kg shipment of cocaine into Australia that had a street value of $270 million but will also face charges over his breach of bail.

The man who was driving the truck in which Baluch was found - who police say owns a transport company - was also arrested.

The 46-year-old has been charged with doing an act intended to pervert the course of justice and denied bail.

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Accused drug lord Mostafa Baluch's brief stint as a fugitive is over - he is back in handcuffs, under police guard and being flown back to Sydney.

Baluch's desperate bid for freedom ended when he was found hiding in a grey Mercedes concealed in a shipping container being transported on the back of a truck.

He had been on the run from police when nabbed during a botched bid to cross the Queensland border on Wednesday morning.

Sixteen days earlier, he cut off an ankle monitor while on bail and sparked "one of the largest fugitive hunts in the country".

Police allege he was planning to flee overseas from Queensland.

Queensland officers searched dozens of trucks over the past few days, zeroing in on the transport after noticing the container wasn't properly secured.

After a night in the Southport Watchhouse, Baluch's extradition hearing was held on Thursday.

Unvaccinated for COVID-19, Baluch remained in isolation and unable to appear in court so listened to the proceedings by phone.

Lawyer Nicholas Andrews consented to the extradition application without objection.

Baluch finally left the Southport watchhouse around 1pm under heavy police guard for his long-awaited return to NSW.

He was escorted to Coolangatta Airport and flown by PolAir6 - a Cessna Grand Caravan - to Bankstown Airport.

Baluch will be transferred to the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre where he will face further charges by Organised Crime Squad detectives.

He is expected to face Sydney's Central Local Court on Friday.

The accused kingpin was last seen in Bayview on Sydney's northern beaches on October 25, days after being granted bail.

He was released on strict conditions, including $4 million surety on his waterfront home at Bayview.

Baluch is charged with a string of drug offences related to a 900kg shipment of cocaine into Australia that had a street value of $270 million but will also face charges over his breach of bail.

The man who was driving the truck in which Baluch was found - who police say owns a transport company - was also arrested.

The 46-year-old has been charged with doing an act intended to pervert the course of justice and denied bail.

© AAP 2021