Ballarat, Victoria, Australia (October 1, 2023) - A member of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club was reportedly shot near a clubhouse during the MC's annual run to regional Victoria. The 29-year-old man was admitted to Ballarat hospital shortly after 1:00 A.M. on Sunday with non-life-threatening injuries from a gunshot wound.
Police believe the Bandidos MC member was in the area of the Bandidos clubhouse when the shooting took place. This comes as members of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club descended on Ballarat and nearby Buninyong for their national run. Victoria Police’s Echo and VIPER Taskforce, supported by local police monitored the event to ensure public safety.
Ballarat, Victoria, Australia (September 29, 2023) - Hundreds of members of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club from around Australia gathered on Friday in Ballarat for the their national run event. The Bandidos MC members are expected to travel to nearby Buninyong before returning over the weekend.
In a statement, Victoria Police said on Thursday that officers were “aware” of the national run. “Echo and VIPER taskforces, with local police and specialist units, will be closely monitoring to ensure the safety of all road users,” they said.
“There will be an increased police presence in the Ballarat area over the weekend before members are expected to depart on Sunday. “Police will be ready to take swift action in the event any Bandidos MC members involved commit criminal, road safety or public order offences.”
Western Region Superintendent Frank Sells said that police would not be intimidated and their presence would be increased. Ballarat has hosted the Bandidos several times before, with the annual general meeting held last year at popular local restaurant Lazy Moe’s.
South Australia (September 14, 2023) - Hells Angels members will be barred from a regular meeting place after state parliament passed a law designating the property a prescribed place. The Ponde compound, about 100km east of Adelaide, was home to a rock music festival until 2002 but will now be off bounds to club members after the government's latest move to block its use by the bikie gang.
"We do not want to see outlaw motorcycle gangs getting a hold back in South Australia," Attorney-General Kyam Maher told reporters on Thursday. "We will do everything that is in our power to make South Australians safer and that includes changing the law very quickly when we need to."
The High Court in August invalidated an attempt by the previous Liberal government to ban the bikies from Ponde, but Mr Maher was adamant his law would face no such obstacles as it amended the legislation itself and was not just a regulation. "What we've done through the passage of this legislation in parliament, is to make it as bulletproof as possible," he said.
The declaration of the site as a prescribed place means any members of a listed criminal organisation cannot visit. But the Law Society of South Australia criticised the bill, arguing it was based on a flawed regime. In a submission to Mr Maher, the society's president James Marsh said the law increased the risk that individuals could have their property unjustly confiscated.
"The society queries the justification in abrogating any citizen's right to procedural fairness," he wrote. Mr Maher said the society's representations "fell on deaf ears." "We will do absolutely everything we can to make sure bikies have as little influence in this state as possible," he said.
In 2019, police found a burnt-out car on the property that had been linked to a bashing murder. At one stage the government tried to seize the land as a criminal asset but later dropped that bid.
Queensland, Australia (July 30, 2022) - Operation Viking, which began 6:00 am last Monday, resulted in more than $150,000 cash, seven firearms and a raft of prohibited drugs like methylamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana allegedly being seized across northern NSW and southeast Queensland. The combined street value of the drugs is estimated to be more than $4.5 million.
The operation was established by NSW Police in partnership with the NSW Crime Commission, Queensland Police, Federal Police and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission to gather intelligence and disrupt bikie activities across the Northern Rivers and Gold Coast border regions.
State Crime Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Jason Weinstein, said it was the result of two weeks of intensive overt and covert operations to shadow outlaw motorcycle club activity. During the search, officers allegedly located a bar at the rear of the home that contained Mongols paraphernalia, alcohol and an amount of marijuana.
Melbourne, Australia (July 29, 2022) - Online merchandise store Redbubble has been ordered to pay the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club more than $78,000 for selling items depicting the MC's logo without permission, in the second ruling against the company in three years.
Redbubble is an online marketplace that allows users to upload images to be printed on merchandise such as stickers, mugs, T-shirts, masks and other items, which are then offered for sale.
After winning $5,000 from Redbubble for trademark infringement in 2019, the club launched legal action again last year after discovering more items for sale bearing the Hells Angels MC logo. The company uses keyword filtering to pick up on uploads that may violate the copyright or trademarks of organisations that have sought to protect it, such as the Hells Angels MC.
Redbubble proactively moderates uploads for 477 organisations, and told the court that 2 million artworks uploaded to the site had been moderated in the past five years – including 114 related to the Hells Angels MC since the 2019 court decision.
However, the Hells Angels MC trademark officer in Australia was able to buy a number of items bearing the Hells Angels logo despite the previous court ruling. Over the course of the case, 11 different listings were discovered.
While the only people who had bought items bearing the logos were members of the Hells Angel Motorcycle Club who were seeking to determine whether the items were still for sale, Greenwood did not award damages on the basis of sales but instead for the injury suffered for the use of the trade marks without authorization.
Melbourne, Australia (September 1, 2021) - A Hells Angels MC clubhouse in Melbourne's north has been raided again as the search continues for an Adelaide man, who police suspect has been murdered.
Police stormed the Hells Angels MC clubhouse in Thomastown but did not find a body.
The raid follows police carrying out searches of the Jacksons Creek area in Diggers Rest this month to try to find the Adelaide man's remains.
According to Victoria Police, the search of the Lipton Drive club house followed new information they were given in their investigation into Mr Giakoumis' disappearance. The clubhouse is the last place where the 29-year-old, who police believe was not a patched member of the Hells Angels MC, was known to have been seen, back in the early hours of Wednesday, 10 June 2020.
Mr Giakoumis had arrived in Melbourne from Adelaide on 5 June, 2020 with two people who police believe are members of the motorcycle club.
He had told his family that he was planning to do concreting work in Melbourne. Giakoumis regularly spoke with his family after he arrived in Melbourne, but he stopped contacting them on Wednesday, 10 June 2020, when he didn't board his flight home to Adelaide.
A task force has been established to investigate Kerry’s disappearance and suspected murder.
Police believe it is likely a dispute occurred on 10 June 2020, which may be connected to members or associates of the Hells Angels MC.
Melbourne, Australia (November 26, 2020) - The head of a Melbourne Mongols MC already out on bail has been granted it again after he was arrested today.
Mongols boss Toby Mitchell was arrested by the Echo Taskforce following an incident that took place in Melbourne on November 15 event. He was knocked unconscious during an early hours brawl at Queens Bridge Square in Southbank.
Earlier in the night he had been partying at Soho Bar.
CCTV footage shows Mitchell walking with a group of friends along the Southbank promenade and engaging in a verbal altercation with a man sitting on the ground who he then punched in the face twice.
Mitchell was pulled away by his group of friends, but he approached that man again and that’s when the he was struck unconscious.
The Mongols leader was charged with affray and committing an indictable offence while on bail. He faced the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court via video link, and was granted bail for the second time in less than eight weeks today.
The leader was in court last month, also on assault charges but released on bail.
Toby Mitchell
The alleged serious assault occurred outside a cafe on Domain Road in South Yarra on October 4.
Police allege he struck the male to the head three times.
As part of his bail conditions Mr Mitchell was not to associate with any members of the Mongols.
Darwin, Australia (May 19, 2020) BTN - An alleged member of a Darwin Hells Angels motorcycle club has been banned from seeing his “friends” or visiting their clubhouse after being charged with drug and weapons offences. Adrian Lyle Cook, 57, faced the Darwin Local Court on a string of charges after allegedly failing a drug test during a traffic stop on Friday.
Cook was bailed after his arrest and prosecutor Erin McAuley applied to have him banned from associating with “any patched members, prospect members or associates of the Hells Angels” or come within 100m of their Darwin clubhouse.
Ms McAuley said ammunition allegedly seized during a raid on Cook’s home was found in “what the police have described as a holding room that was littered with Hells Angels paraphernalia, including the sergeant-at arms motorcycle jacket”.
She said the circumstances of the seizure suggested Cook was “a somewhat trusted member” of the club.
“There are concerns that if these restrictions are not imposed that he will still be able to affiliate with members of the Hells Angels,” she said.
“But also, more concerning perhaps, is the fact that he was found in the possession of ammunition and other items that would assist the motorcycle group in other breaches of the law.”
In opposing the bail variation, Cook’s lawyer Shane McMaster said it was “not a crime to be associated with the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club”. “He is associated with that club and closely associated with various members, they are his friends, they are his social group,” he said.
“Because they are his social group a lot of his previous friendship or social group has dissipated (so) these are the people he knows and hangs around with, he fixes motorbikes, he goes on motorbikes with them.”
Mr McMaster said the offences his client had been charged with “have got nothing to do with the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club”.
“There are various matters that we’ll be looking at in terms of forensics and weights and things like that but I can indicate that a lot of it is going to proceed by way of plea,” he said.
“The cannabis, your honour, conveniently comes in at one gram over the minimum 50g which would be a traffic-able amount.”
In granting the application, judge Greg Cavanagh said it was “certainly not a crime to be a part of a motorcycle club”. “I have mates who are in such clubs, years ago I used to do legal work for the Hells Angels,” he said.
“Any restriction that is merely premised on being an associate, being friendly with or hanging around with Hells Angels members would not be a just thing to do and I wouldn’t do it merely for that reason.
“But I am going to make the conditions sought because I think it’s a very serious indication of the likelihood of further offences when someone has a safe room containing material – the gun pieces, the ammunition and all that’s contained in the schedule within that room – together with bits and pieces of Hells Angels paraphernalia.”
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia (February 11, 2020) BTN — The Gold Coast president of a major motorcycle club has been arrested after a series of raids targeting Motorcycle Groups across the Glitter Strip.
Houses at Ashmore, Helensvale, Coomera and Mermaid Beach were raided by officers who arrested eight people, including the president of the Gold Coast chapter of the Mongols MC.
Police allegedly found weapons including knuckledusters, mobile phones dangerous drugs and cash and seized three Harley Davidson motorcycles suspected of being stolen.
All those arrested have been released under strict bail conditions to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court at a later date.
The raids were part of a national crackdown targeting the Mongols MC after police received intelligence regarding the club’s alleged unlawful activities.
Since 2014 the National Taskforce Operation Morpheus delivered a co-ordinated approach to the tackling the criminality linked with Outlaw Motorcycle Groups.
As part of the ongoing operations to disrupt serious crime linked to the organised crime networks, Taskforce Maxima teams additionally served 20 consorting warning notices.
Det Superintendent Lowe says they will allege several from several different clubs are allegedly involved in the syndicate.
“Whilst this operation is targeting the organised crime syndicate, our investigation suggests that this syndicate crosses over a number of outlaw motorcycle gangs including the Lone Wolfs, The Hells Angels, The Mongols and some links to the Rebels.”
“It’s not uncommon for OMCGs to cross over and do business with each other in the unlawful activities. They’re really governed by greed and their involvement in illicit drugs and weapons.”
A 28-year-old member of the Mongols was also arrested on drugs and weapons charges and will front Beenleigh Magistrates Court tomorrow.
More charges are expected to be laid in coming days.
Innaloo, Australia (January 17, 2020) BTN — Mirrabooka Detectives have charged a man after their investigation into a serious assault incident involving a Coffin Cheaters Motorcycle Club member.
It will be alleged that about 1:30 pm on Sunday 22 December 2019, the victim, a 41-year old man, was walking in the Scarborough Beach front area when he was punched from behind.
As a result of the attack, the victim received serious injuries and was conveyed to Royal Perth Hospital for surgery.
After significant investigative action, on 14 January 2020, Mirrabooka Detectives executed a search warrant at an address in Innaloo.
A 31-year-old man who is a patched member of the Coffin Cheaters Motorcycle Club, has been charged with one count of Grievous Bodily Harm. He is due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday 5 February 2020.
Sydney, Australia (January 17, 2020) BTN — The execution-style killing of an Australian Bandidos MC boss has sparked outpourings of grief from Bandidos chapters as far afield as Singapore, Denmark and Norway.
Shane De Britt, the NSW Central West chapter president of the Bandidos motorcycle club, was found on his rural property south of Wellington with a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
Police say there were no witnesses to the killing and they're now investigating links to other motorcycle club activity in the area.
Bandidos chapters from Denmark, Germany, France, Singapore and Italy have released tributes to Mr De Britt, who also went by the nickname "Wock".
"It is with a heavy hand and heartfelt regrets that I write to express our deepest condolences for the tragic passing of our brother Bandido Wock," a chapter from the French resort town of Antibes wrote on the Bandidos' website.
"Our condolences and warm thoughts go out to his family, brothers and friends," a Bandidos chapter in Denmark said.
A chapter in Darwin wrote: "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Bandido Wock, president central west chapter, Australia."
"Such a massive loss. A true gentleman, larger than life."
Another to remember Mr De Britt as a "legend" was John Paul Pennie, an Irish ex-bikie deported from West Australia last year after being imprisoned on drugs charges.
Sydney, Australia (January 16, 2020) BTN — About 10:50 am on Tuesday, police and emergency services responded to reports a man had been shot at a property on Catombal Road, Eurimbla, about 50km south of Wellington.
President of the Bandidos Central West Shane De Britt
Officers attached to Orana Mid-Western Police District attended and located the body of a 60-year-old man inside the home. He had suffered a gunshot wound to the head.
The man has been formally identified as Bandidos MC Central West Chapter President, Shane De Britt. A crime scene was established at the property and examined by specialist forensic officers.
The activities of the Central West chapter have been investigated by Strike Force Birrewa.
The State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, assisted by Criminal Groups Squad and Orana Mid-Western Police District detectives, are investigating the circumstances surrounding the man’s death under Strike Force Kerrison.
As part of their ongoing inquiries, detectives are canvassing the local area, and speaking with Mr De Britt’s family, friends, and associates.
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (January 16, 2020) BTN — Not one bikie has been jailed under Queensland's "tougher" consorting laws aimed at cracking down on motorcycle clubs involved in drugs, guns and fraud.
Despite 389 official warnings for consorting, only three people were charged last financial year, the Queensland Public Interest Monitor revealed. Those people were still before the courts.
Since the Palaszczuk government's "stronger and tougher laws" came into effect in 2017, two people have been convicted of habitual consorting.
The law banned outlaw motorcycle club members from wearing club colours in public and made it illegal for a person to habitually consort with two or more recognised offenders after being warned by police not to do so.
While no one had been convicted in at least two years, the report showed 237 pre-emptive verified warnings were issued in 2018-19 as well as 152 retrospective verified warnings and 129 consorting preventative directions.
Police Minister Mark Ryan said despite the lack of convictions the laws were working and were "the strongest, most comprehensive laws" in the nation. "The relatively small number of convictions in relation to habitual consorting laws demonstrates that members of outlaw motorcycle gangs know police will target them if they breach those laws," he said.
"The evidence shows that the vast majority of people issued with a habitual consorting notice are complying with the conditions imposed because they know not to do so will result in them being targeted by police."
LNP police spokesman Trevor Watts said the laws were "weak" and not working. “Bikies get a slap on the wrist and then Labor sends them back out into the community in no time," he said.
“Accused bikies were kept on remand and communities were kept safe under the LNP, but Annastacia Palaszczuk replaced tough laws with her weak consorting offence.
“The LNP will deliver action by bringing back our anti-consorting laws and cracking down on gun crime – we already have laws before the Parliament that include tougher penalties and new offences."
The bill Mr Watts referred to was introduced in May and would allow “high-risk” Queenslanders to be searched by police at any time, without a warrant. Mr Ryan said outlaw motorcycle club memberships were declining. "Many are throwing in their colours and many are behind bars," he said.
He said since the laws were introduced, 132 full patched members had disaffiliated and more than 2000 bikies had been charged with 11,735 offences.
Former Supreme Court justice Peter Lyons, who authored the report, said legislation was implemented on a district level, which allowed "policing resources to be quickly directed".
"There is no single centralised unit or individual responsible for state-wide monitoring and co-ordination of the way in which consorting is operationalised on a day-to-day basis," he wrote.
New South Wales, Australia (January 16, 2020) BTN — On Sunday, January 12, firefighters discovered a large, older style coach with 'Mobile Massage Machine' and 'Bandidos Property' written on the side, surrounded by scrub in Mares Forest National Park.
The coach had been severely burnt out by the bush fire in the remote, mountainous and heavily forested area near Wombeyan Caves. A short distance away from the coach, the caravan and a shed, also burnt by the bush fire, were located.
The matter was reported to police.
Officers from the Hume Police District travelled with the NSW Rural Fire Service to find the location of the caravan, coach and shed on Monday, January 13. The caravan was located and was found to be as described. However, nothing of interest was located by police while the caravan was examined.
Police also checked no one was trapped on the coach when the fire passed through the area. Police won't be pursuing the matter further, Detective Acting Inspector Matt Packham said.
The information has been passed onto Strike Force Raptor, which targets outlaw motorcycle clubs.
Osborne Park, Western Australia (January 13, 2020) BTN — Bikies, paedophiles and drug traffickers could face up to five years in jail for communicating with other convicted criminals under proposed anti-consorting legislation.
Under the laws, police would be able to issue an “unlawful consorting notice” to anyone convicted of an indictable offence — such as murder, robbery or wounding — ordering them not to communicate with a list of other people who have committed an indictable offence.
The new law would help tackle organised organisations such as motorcycle clubs, which are estimated to have 400-500 members in WA.
The move comes after the former Barnett government’s “anti-association” laws, introduced in 2012, which attempted to ban gang members from associating with each other, resulted in zero notices from police.
About seven new motorcycle groups have come to WA in the past seven years according to Attorney-General John Quigley who said membership numbers had doubled in the same period.
He said child sex rings and illicit drug distributors would also be caught up in the legislation, to be introduced in the first week of parliament next month.
“Outlaw motorcycle gangs are just one corner of organised crime, they will be captured by this legislation as will a host of other people who are the enablers, the financiers and the heads of these networks who keep their hands clean,” Mr Quigley said.
“These (notices) are going to be used tactically and strategically against organised crime gangs. The anti-consorting notices will prohibit those people from consorting together for a period of three years on the threat of the toughest punishment in Australia.”
WA Police Acting Commissioner Col Blanch said in the past 12 months police had significantly ramped up pressure on organised crime operations in the State. “We do know that organised crime is very adaptable and legislation like this helps us stay ahead of the game,” he said.
“Communications are a huge part of organised crime because of the distance it spans whether it is national or international, so defeating communications ... is a very significant tool for us to have. Most of these criminals we are ramping up the pressure on have decided to leave WA.”
Under the legislation, police would be able to issue a notice to convicted criminals in WA not to communicate with overseas contacts. The law could also be used to target high-ranking bikies who undertook national runs through WA.
Police Minister Michelle Roberts said in the course of the last year the gang crime squad seized more than $1.2 million in cash, 48 guns and 13kg of meth and other drugs.
Kingston, Australia (January 11, 2020) BTN — A member of the Nomads motorcycle club has been charged with drug trafficking offences by ACT Policing’s Taskforce Nemesis (TN).
The 29-year-old Kingston man was arrested after a warrant was issued on Monday for a breach of good behavior obligations.
The man was arrested in Kingston as a result of the warrant, and officers allegedly found illicit drugs suspected to be methamphetamine, heroin and GHB after searching his possessions.
Approximately $30,000 in cash was also found.
He has been charged with trafficking in a controlled drug other than cannabis, possession of a drug of dependence and breach of bail.
The man is expected to face the ACT Magistrates Court today where bail will be opposed.
Moree, New South Wales, Australia (November 27, 2019) BTN — A former Australian detective has ridiculed National's zero-tolerance approach to gangs, saying the strategy has been a "disaster" across the ditch. The opposition party yesterday proposed setting up an elite police squad - modelled on Strike Force Raptor in New South Wales - with the sole purpose of crushing gangs.
National leader Simon Bridges repeatedly described the unit as "devastatingly effective" and referenced media reports which claimed it was driving outlaw bikies into extinction.
But former NSW detective Mike Kennedy told RNZ that was "nonsense" and Mr Bridges was "living a dream" if he believed that. "He needs to pull his head out of whatever it's stuck in because ... [gangs] exist. They're always going to exist. They just go underground. "I'm not a bleeding heart liberal," he said. "But [the zero-tolerance strategy has] just been a disaster."
Dr Kennedy spent much of his time with the police as an undercover officer working in organised crime and is now a senior lecturer at Western Sydney University. He said there was no evidence to suggest that gang numbers had fallen dramatically since the formation of Strike Force Raptor a decade ago. "Outlaw motorcycle gangs are unregulated, so how would you know?" he said. "They're not required to pay a fee ... and register with government. So any suggestion that the numbers are down is just nonsense."
Dr Kennedy said the problem had just been driven underground. "People don't stop being members of groups just because they've been arrested. They go into jail, they reinforce themselves, they come out, [and] they get more of a reason to remain in the group they're in."
Police officers needed a working relationship with communities, including gang members, so they would cooperate with investigations, he said.
"You need this community to trust you so that when things need to be brought into line, the police are able to go in and speak to people and find out who's ... behaving really badly, and who needs to be put in jail," Dr Kennedy said. "If you want those families to help the police ... then you can't just tar them all with the same brush. And that's what Raptor does."
National's law and order discussion document describes Strike Force Raptor as a "proactive, high-impact specialist unit" designed to target outlaw motorcycle gangs and associated criminal enterprises.
The elite military-style unit was set up in 2009 following a deadly clash between the Hells Angels and Comancheros at Sydney Airport. The strike force is designed to punish gang members via all legal avenues, coming after them for any infraction, no matter how minor, from a parking fine to a punch-up.
A Nine News report earlier this year stated Strike Force Raptor had made more than 5000 arrests and laid more than 12,000 charges over the past decade. The unit had also seized 1700 illegal firearms and shut down more than 50 clubhouses, it said.
NSW Police declined to provide RNZ with evidence of Strike Force Raptor's success, saying it was not "appropriate" for it to comment on a matter "out of our jurisdiction". The media team also refused to reveal the size of the unit or its annual operating cost.
Speaking to Morning Report, Mr Bridges promised the party would release figures "in the next little while" which would prove the unit's effectiveness. "We are at this moment, in fact, talking to the government in New South Wales to compile the data."
Melbourne, Australia (August 5, 2019) BTN —A man has been arrested after police seized a loaded firearm and drugs believed to be steroids from the Bandidos MC clubhouse in Melbourne's north.
The police raided properties in Brunswick and Doveton in Melbourne's south-east on Thursday as part of the anti-bikie Echo Taskforce.
The State Emergency Service assisted police with floodlights, as it was still dark, at an address on Weston Street in Brunswick on Thursday morning, a spokeswoman confirmed.
Along with the firearm and drugs, a 48-year-old man was subsequently arrested at the Brunswick property, and charged with possessing an unregistered handgun and unlicensed ammunition as well as a drug of dependence.
No one was arrested and no items were seized at the Doveton property.
Victoria Police said the two search warrants had been executed as part of an ongoing operation.
"Echo Taskforce detectives have executed two warrants this morning, one each in Brunswick and Doveton, as part of an ongoing operation," a spokeswoman said. "As the investigation is ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time."
The clubhouse has been the scene of violence in the past.
Former Bandidos enforcer Toby Mitchell was shot by two gunmen in an attempted hit outside the Brunswick clubhouse in 2011.
In 2014 a drunken passerby was beaten to death after taunting a dog tied up outside the clubhouse.
Echo Taskforce was launched in 2011 to tackle Victoria's outlaw bikie gangs.
Perth, Australia (April 20, 2019) BTN — Five international motorcycle club members including three Gypsy Jokers and two associates of the club have been banned from entering the country after being stopped at Perth Airport.
The men all arrived in Perth in the past week to attend an event being held on Saturday night to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the motorcycle club.
Baggage search bench at Perth Airport
But the Australian Border Force (ABF) said they were all stopped and questioned before having their visas cancelled because "they presented a risk to the health, safety or good order of the Australian community, or a segment of the community".
The men included two Germans, aged 33 and 61, a 34-year-old Norwegian and two Spaniards aged 43 and 44. The ABF said the German pair, both members of the Gypsy Jokers, arrived in Perth on a flight from Hong Kong on Monday night.
The Spanish men, both club associates, also arrived on Monday on a flight from Dubai. The Norwegian member of the Gypsy Jokers arrived on a flight from Singapore on Wednesday. The ABF said the men were held at the Perth immigration detention centre before being sent home.
ABF regional commander for WA Rod O'Donnell said they were focussed on disrupting the activities of outlaw motorcycle gangs.
"These gangs pose a significant threat to our community and are known to be involved in serious criminal activity including drug trafficking and violent crime," he said. "Any non-citizen involved with a criminal organisation, including outlaw motorcycle gangs, can expect to have their Australian visa cancelled on arrival and be removed from the country."
The event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Gypsy Jokers, at the motorcycle club's Maddington clubhouse in Perth's south-eastern suburbs, is expected to be watched closely by police.
Sydney, AU (April 11, 2019) BTN — An Irish ex-bikie who has lived in Australia since he was six years old, but has spent time behind bars, will be deported after his visa was cancelled and his appeal rejected in the Federal Court.
John Paul Pennie, who moved to Australia with his parents in 1980, was sentenced in July 2015 to four-and-a-half years in a WA prison for charges including possessing methylamphetamine with intent to sell or supply and wilful destruction of evidence. In January 2016, a delegate of the Home Affairs Minister cancelled Pennie’s visa, ruling he did not pass the character test due to his criminal record which included being a former vice president of the Bandidos bikies.
After the minister refused to revoke the cancellation, Pennie took his case to the Federal Court but on Thursday his application was rejected.
Pennie had claimed he feared a lack of medical care for his health issues in Ireland and that he would be homeless.
But Justice Katrina Banks-Smith said the minister had considered possible hardship and had not made an error.
Pennie also argued he did not pose an unacceptable risk to the Australian community, in part because he had severed ties with the Bandidos.
After Pennie announced he was leaving the club, he was told he had to stab a fellow inmate and assault another, but he refused, which led to Pennie being attacked in Casuarina prison.
“Different minds might reach different conclusions as to the likelihood of the applicant being exposed to contact with the Bandidos Motorcycle Club upon release into the community and the relevance of such exposure to the risk of harm to the Australian community,” Justice Banks-Smith said.
“But that does not mean the minister’s views can be described as illogical or irrational.”
