Right: Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has promised the "world's toughest" anti-outlaw motorcycle club laws.
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Background information
(The information contained in this background note is an edited, abbreviated version of that found in the Wikipedia entry titled 'Gangs in Australia'. The full entry can be accessed at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangs_in_Australia#Outlaw_motorcycle_gangs)
Outlaw motorcycle gangs in Australia
Outlaw motorcycle gangs are present in Australia, with international outlaw clubs like the Bandidos and Hells Angels and Gypsy Jokers as well as local groups. The term 'outlaw motorcycle gang' is unofficial. It refers to the gangs' perception of themselves as operating outside the usual societal constraints.
While conflict between various clubs has been common, in 2008 the gang conflict escalated, with 13 shootings taking place in Sydney in the space of two weeks. In early 2009, the Comanchero Motorcycle Club and Hells Angels were involved in a clash at Sydney Airport. One gang member was beaten to death in plain view of witnesses at the airport, and police estimated as many as 15 men were involved in the violence. Police documents detail the brawl as a result of the Comanchero and Hells Angels Presidents being on the same flight from Melbourne. Four suspects were arrested as a result of the altercation.
Including two murders in the capital city, four people were killed in the space of a week in Canberra and in Sydney. As a result of heightening violence, New South Wales Premier Nathan Rees announced the state police anti-gang squad would be boosted to 125 members from 50.
In Western Australia bike gangs are involved in the drug trade. Bikie gangs in South Australia are also involved in drugs, murder, extortion and other forms of intimidation and violence. They have diversified their activities into both legal and illegal commercial business enterprises.
Gang violence has provoked a reaction from various state governments which have begun changing laws to focus on the problem. Police have set up groups to deal with the threat, including the Crime Gang Task Force in South Australia.
Laws against bikie gangs
Laws to deal with bikie gangs (applying to any association, bike or otherwise) have been introduced into Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland, and are presently being looked at in New South Wales.
In 2013, Queensland enacted Criminal Law (Criminal Organisations Disruption) Amendment Act 2013 to criminalise outlaw motorcycle gangs.
Bikie clubs
Clubs in Australia include:
Bandidos - One of the "Big Four" American gangs identified by authorities. They have 19 chapters across Australia and between 250 and 400 members. This is one of the clubs that has actively recruited from ethnic groups in recent years.
Coffin Cheaters - They have chapters in Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, as well as in Norway. They have between 200 and 300 members.
Comancheros - One of the oldest outlaw clubs in Australia founded by Jock Ross during the late 60s early 70s. Its headquarters are in Western Sydney. It has chapters in Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia. They have between 250 and 300 members in Australia and have expanded in Spain and Serbia.
Finks - Formed in Adelaide, South Australia, in 1969 and now has chapters in other states. It was reported in October 2013 that most members were to switch to the United States based Mongols.
Gypsy Jokers - The Gypsy Joker MC, an American-formed club, are most notorious for the 2001 car-bomb murders of West Australian police senior investigator Don Hancock and Lawrence Lewis. They have between 200 and 300 members in Australia.
Hells Angels - Founded in the US and one of the "Big Four" American gangs, now active worldwide. In Australia, they have 150-250 members and are allied with the Nomads.
Nomads - The Nomads club has no website and is not as widely known as other clubs, but does have a significant presence in the press as an outlaw motorcycle club engaged in allegedly illegal activities.
Notorious - The club Notorious, a recently-formed Middle Eastern gang, have started competing with Australian bikie gangs, in a turf war for drug sales. Notorious is reportedly using members of the Middle Eastern and Islander communities in Sydney, and may be wooing members of those backgrounds from other clubs. They have between 150-200 members.
Rebels - The Rebels are the largest outlaw motorcycle club in Australia, and have 29 chapters. They are a more traditional club and are run by former boxer and founding member, Alex Vella. They are by far the largest club in Australia with around 2,000 members.
A growing percentage of the crime attributed to outlaw motorcycle gangs since around 2010 is not necessarily committed by actual bikers. Much of the crime has been committed by non-riding members or associates of these gangs, bringing into question whether these individuals should be referred to as belonging to outlaw "motorcycle" gangs or simply outlaw gangs that have splintered from the original group. This component of the culture is increasingly referred to as "Nike Bikies" as their attire is significantly different to that of the traditional biker. As Professor Arthur Veno has described, "They wear Nike tennis shoes rather than riding boots."