Aussie stars say G'Day in LA

Apparently there aren't too many places in Los Angeles where scandal-plagued Mel Gibson feels he can be among friends.

He found one on Saturday night.

The 11th annual G'Day USA Black Tie Gala was held in downtown Los Angeles, with Gibson sharing the red carpet with Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Jacki Weaver, Naomi Watts, Simon Baker, Paul Hogan, Curtis Stone, Jessica Gomes, Andrew Bogut and an assortment of other Aussie celebrities, sports stars, models and hangers-on.

"I like to come to a place where, quite frankly, where there is a room full of people who aren't afraid to call a spade a f***ing shovel," Gibson told reporters as he made a quick exit from the red carpet at the JW Marriott Hotel's ballroom.

The ball is the highlight of the G'Day USA festival, set up to promote Australian trade, tourism, film, food and wine.

Rush, Weaver and Stone were presented with awards while NCIS actress Pauley Perrette and TV host Richard Wilkins shared the master of ceremony duties.