Mr Newman had been waging a campaign against Asian organised crime in his Cabramatta electorate in south-west Sydney for some years. He had been about to meet the state Commander of Police to talk about the crime rate in the area. Mr Newman had said that the Cabramatta area's crime statistics for murder, assault and theft were the highest in Sydney. Illegal drug activity is also high, according to Dr Dan Weatherburn, the NSW bureaue of Statistics Director.

    Mr Newman had been the target of a string of threats and attacks for several years. He received two death threats earlier this year, his car was paint-bombed three times and a shot was fired at his electorate office.

    He continued to fight the armed gangs that imtimidated local businesses and residents, claiming that Asian gangs now outnumbered local police two to one.

   Premier John Fahey, who has asked for a review of security for politicians, described thekilling of Mr Newman an an event unprecedented in Australian history.

    Ms Lucy Wang, the fiance of Mr Newman, has pleaded for anyone with information about the shooting to come forward and tell police. A special hotline is operating and 40 police have been assigned to the taskforce investigating the murder.

A state funeral is being held today.