THE first alleged bikies from interstate arrested under Queensland’s controversial new anti-association laws face three years’ jail for walking down a Surfers Paradise street together looking for ice cream. Yeah…right. If I was their lawyer that’s what I would say, or maybe I’d ramp it up a bit , “we were going to take our Grannie out for lunch”…or, “we were looking for a labrador puppy to cuddle” or “we were going to the bank to withdraw our life savings so we could give it all to the poor”. I certaintly wouldn’t mention the truth, whatever it might have been on that occassion. From “On the Origins of Consorting Laws, University of Melbourne

In particular, two inquiries conducted by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Crime Commission between 2006 and 2009 showed that criminal gangs had diversified their activities across illicit drug trafficking, illegal firearms, money laundering, fraud, stock market manipulation, extortion and protection rackets, counterfeiting, and vehicle rebirthing; that groups were working collaboratively, flexibly and across state borders; and that the annual cost to the Australian economy was $10 billion. Motorcycle gangs were specifically labelled as being linked to most forms of serious organised crime.

You should read the entire paper  before you enter into any debate about how unfair the laws are based around the statement that ‘we were only getting an icecream’. Since Federation, consorting laws have been legislated for one sole reason – to break up criminal gangs.  It is fair that the laws be debated but only in the context that we need to get control of criminal gangs – not in the context that every bikie is a hard done-by victim – it is the victims of their crime empires that are hard done-by. However, I can understand how difficult that is in a society where just yesterday a thug who king hit a bystander was given bail even though he was on bail for a previous count of thuggery whilst armed with a machette! The Bikie gangs are spending big on positive PR and lawyers to try and maintain their right to control “illicit drug trafficking, illegal firearms, money laundering, fraud, stock market manipulation, extortion and protection rackets, counterfeiting, and vehicle rebirthing” and I, for one, can see why – it’s worth billions to them. Some Vietnam Vets of the bikie variety are screaming innocence but a quick look at their website leads to links to criminal MC Clubs proudly sporting their 1% patches. From Wikipaedia;

Some outlaw motorcycle clubs can be distinguished by a 1% patch worn on the colors. This is claimed to be a reference to a comment made by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) in which they stated that 99% of motorcyclists were law-abiding citizens, implying that the last one percent were outlaws. As a result, some outlaw motorcycle clubs used it to unite or express themselves and are commonly referred to as “one percenters”

Suck it up guys – if you want to lay down with dogs you’ll get up with fleas. The Australian Crime Commission thinks they’re criminals –from their website

The ACC has also committed to a range of other activities and its powers, however due to operational reasons, these cannot be detailed.

Serious and organised crime groups, such as OMCGs, operating in Australia continue to be formidable in their capabilities, resources, resilience and their ability to corrupt and exploit national and international opportunities and connections.

OMCGs remain one of the most high profile manifestations of organised crime, and they have an active presence in all Australian States and Territories.

During 2012, there were 44 active OMCGs in Australia, comprising of 4483 individuals (excluding associates and prospects).  This represents an increase of 53 per cent since 2007. 

It’s just business, dear reader.  We are now getting imigrants from the US and South America wanting a piece of the ever increasing metamphetamine and other drugs markets.  Now these guys really know how to run criminal entities and the current gang wars is proof of that – they are all looking to set up a monopoly. Just watch  old movies about the Mafia to see how that might pan out. Me, I’m backing the police and if a few Bikies can’t cuddle a labrador pup or buy an icecream then I don’t really care.