Crime gangs and consorting laws

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.

20 comments

  • Let’s set up a scenario for you Kev.
     
    A mad Leftist government is elected in Queensland with an unassailable majority.
    Under the existing legislation, Vietnam Veterans are then classified as Vicious Outlaws because they may have killed Communists during their military service.
    You and a few of your veteran mates go down the pub for a beer. You’re picked up on CCTV and identified as Vietnam veterans.
    You’re banged up for three months, most of it in solitary, and made to wear a pink jumpsuit.
    Sound unlikely?
    The only part that isn’t real is the political colour of the government.
    I have no sympathy for crims, but this is totalitarianism pure and simple, and I’d be saying the same if a Labor government was in power. This legislation will go down in the High Court, and these blokes will be owed a motsa for compensation.
    Newman has got the judiciary so far offside that they’ll pursue him as far as it takes.
    And the Queensland taxpayer will pick up the tab.
    This VLAD legislation is simply a stunt to distract from the parlous state of the Queensland treasury, the corruption revealed in the LNP,  and the many resignations in Newman’s team.
    It started because JP got his long trousers in a knot when a brawl happened outside a restaurant in his electorate, and being no good friend of Noddy, he got on his mobile and the rest is history.
     
     
     

  • So your for the bikie gangs and their control of illicit drug trafficking, illegal firearms, money laundering, fraud, stock market manipulation, extortion and protection rackets, counterfeiting, and vehicle rebirthing.

    Fair enough.  Do you have a relative in a gang or is it just your hatred of any conservative government initiative?

  • What evidence is there that the bikie gangs are in control of illicit drug trafficking, illegal firearms, money laundering, stock market manipulation, extortion and protection rackets, counterfeiting and vehicle rebirthing?
     
    What are the criminal statistics on this?
    Bottom line is, Newman doesn’t know and doesn’t care.
    It’s a political stunt Kev. In twelve months the LNP will have to pull something else out of the hat, given the trends in the polls.
    Actually, I have a relative in the police force. The Police Union has been threatening police who aren’t towing the party line to shut up or get out.
    That says heaps.

  • What evidence is there 

    ACC as stated in the post

  • That’s a press release – propaganda – contains no statistics.

    • And you, numbers are a moron.
      BTW, I don’t believe you have a relative who is a cop (since you have been caught out in lies of convenience so many times before), but as a matter of interest, feel free to explain exactly which threat your imaginary relative believes that the police union can use to make cops shut up or get out?
      Hint, the police union is a union, not an employer (its implied in the name, so that even people as ideologically blinded as yourself might get it).
      The fact that you made up the story, and couldn’t spot the obvious flaw in the basic rationale, says heaps numbers and its all about you.

  • And you, numbers are a moron.
     
    New year’s resolution – ignore serial abusers…...

    • If that is your resolution then you will have no one to talk to and will have no reason to blog, as every one you communicate with becomes a “serial abuser”.  See if you can notice a common denominator in your inability to to communicate effectively.  And by the way communication is a two way function. 

    • or to put it another way numbers “oh shit, I didn’t spot the obvious flaw in my flow of lies and, yet again I’ve been called on it – how do I get out of it? I know, I’ll cower in the corner and pretend that I have the high moral ground”.
      You get abused numbers because you deserve it, if you were not a serial bullshit artist and colossal arsehole you might just get a basic degree of respect.
      BTW, my new years resolution is that everyone else gets their shit together – it is directed at the amazing amount of blindingly stupid arseholes like yourself that manage, through determined ignorance and idiocy, to make the world worse for everyone else every single day.
       

  • And you numbers, are guilty of serial self abuse. I have known a few gang members in the past and I know they were involved in illegal practices, that’s why they are banged up now. It is well documented in the US about the 1% ers, and it is also well documented about them coming to set up in Australia. It is just your blind militant hatred against the LNP that fuels your stupid comments on this blog.
    A lady from Byron Bay, who came from Toowoomba, recently wrote about a paedophile problem in Toowoomba, maybe this LNP government should turn more attention to that than the bikie problem.

    • Roly, 1735099 suffers with diphallic terata…..can’t be that silly pulling one. He lacks common sense gained by others who live in the real world outside the school ground.
      Loved the inference.

  • Numbers posted http://catallaxyfiles.com/2013/04/25/guest-post-bob-whitaker-reflections-on-the-fall/ about land mine caualties – appears to be a personal acount but I don’t recall any incidences in 5 platoon. Anyone recall?
    He also posted here and got a smack in the ear from all. http://www.michaelsmithnews.com/2014/01/setting-the-record-straight-on-1735099-bob-whittaker-5-platoon-b-company-7rar-svn-1970.html#comments 

  • A bloody big smack in the ear if you ask me. Thanks for the link Dave.

    • Good. going forward it will be very clear that joining a bikie gang is a bad idea.
      Now lets see you pretend that all bikie gangs do is deliver teddy bears to hospitals at Xmas.
      As a matter of interest, why do you think people who joined bikie gangs should be able to escape their past?
      Let me guess, personal responsibility is not really your thing is it numbers?

  • The “only getting an icecream” defence is being used by Craig Thompson http://www.michaelsmithnews.com/2013/09/craig-the-super-this-missuss-reaction-gaol-so-much-to-consider.html – Must be in the Handbook of Best Defences.

  • My taxpayer dollar at work.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TMOiMopMCU&feature=youtube_gdata_player
    One bikie – eight police.
    What is the police union doing for their members?
     

Leave a Reply to Dave Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.