Mongols bikie Harley Barbaro arrested as cops swarm barber shop

Police have swarmed on a Gold Coast business, arresting Mongols bikie Harley Barbaro for allegedly breaching Queensland’s consorting laws. His furious lawyer has slammed the laws as “draconian”.

Notorious Gold Coat bikie Harley Barbaro has been busted for allegedly breaching Queensland’s controversial consorting laws.

Mr Barbaro was arrested at a Gold Coast barber shop on Saturday after a large group of uniformed police officers and plain clothes detectives attended the Mount Warren Park business.

It is understood Barbaro, a Mongols bikie member and the brother of slain Sydney underworld figure Pasquale Barbaro, has a ‘no contact’ order relating to a work colleague.

Defence Solicitor Campbell MacCallum (right) with Harley Barbaro at Southport courthouse. Picture: Scott Powick

However, Mr Barbaro’s lawyer, high-profile Gold Coast defence solicitor Campbell MacCallum, said there was provision in the legislation for work contact to be treated outside the scope of consorting laws.

A furious Mr MacCallum slammed the consorting laws as ‘draconian’ and said his client had done nothing wrong.

“Mr Barbaro works as a direct employee,” he said.

“He is undoubtedly completely entitled to be in the presence of (the business owner) when discharginig his employment duties.”

He said his client had made police aware of the fact that he was employed by a person on his no-contact list several days before the altercation.

“This would deter, in my view, any point in any person extending any cooperating with the QPS in relation to these draconian laws,” he said.

A police spokesman said Barbaro was not charged, but was instead issued with a move-on direction.

Mr Barbaro has previously successfully contested consorting charges, which led to an appeal being filed by the QPS.

As the state’s first consorting case, which involves laws designed to stop a person associating with known criminals, Mr Barbaro won a court action after a magistrate ruled the list of names he was banned from contacting had been lodged incorrectly.

Originally published as Mongols bikie Harley Barbaro arrested as cops swarm barber shop