He was the owner of Daily Commercial News from 1969 to 1981, publisher of the Melbourne Observer from 1971 to 1977, and, during a similar time frame, the Canberra Post.
[1][2][3] Newton graduated from the University of Western Australia with first class honours in economics and was awarded a Hackett scholarship to attend Clare College, Cambridge.
As the paper was only issued once a week Newton began publishing teen magazines (such as Scream and Sweet), entertainment publications (National Tattler and TV Guide) and soft-core pornography (Pleazure, Eros and Kings Cross Whisper) to keep the presses running.
In 1975 he started publishing Marvel Comics reprints, including Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Avengers, Incredible Hulk and an edition of Planet of the Apes.
Following the collapse of his publishing empire, Newton relocated to the United States and re-established his career as a right-wing economic journalist becoming financial editor of the New York Post, with his columns syndicated in the Murdoch press.