Detective Inspector Graham Banks wants new laws to wipe out bikie gangs

For interstate bikies, Victoria is Mexico, where “once you cross that border it’s great”. Now the boss of the anti-bikie taskforce is calling for new laws to wipe out bikie gangs.

The head of Victoria Police’s anti-bikie taskforce would support any new law wiping outlaw bikie gangs from existence.

Detective Inspector Graham Banks of the Echo taskforce told the Sunday Herald Sun he believed the community expected any group that committed murders and runs intimidation and extortion rackets to be stamped out.

Extreme outlaw motorcycle gang violence has been in the spotlight this week with Mongols bikies Aaron Ong and Josh Rider convicted over the 2019 EastLink freeway murder of respected fruiterer Paul Virgona.

Det Insp Banks said laws that criminalised serious organised crime groups, such as the major OMCGs, were warranted.

He said the success of firearms prohibition orders since they were introduced in 2018 showed the impact the right legislation could have.

Other laws to “disrupt” the influence of the major gangs — Comanchero, Mongols, Hells Angels, Bandidos, Finks, Rebels and Nomads — could include banning their “national runs”, Insp Banks said.

“Any legislation that disrupts recruitment and what comes later would be welcomed,” Insp Banks said.

The bikie ‘runs’ are used by clubs to put their brand out into the public domain and recruit members. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“Anything that supports gang members leaving an OMCG would also be welcomed.”

The “runs” are used to put their brand out into the public domain and recruit members to clubs like the big six, the Comanchero, Mongols, Hells Angels, Bandidos, Finks, Rebels.

Six of the past eight national runs by those clubs have been held in Victoria, where anti-association laws introduced in 2016 have never been used because they are viewed as impractical.

Interstate riders see laws in their states as much harsher than here.

One New South Wales Bandido who was in Ballarat for the gang’s national run last month spoke glowingly of the bikie life in Victoria.

“We call it Mexico down here, once you cross that border it’s great,” said a Newcastle-based Bandido who wanted to to be known as “Davey”.

Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill said it was the force’s hope that there would be a “more harmonised approach” across jurisdictions regarding unlawful associations.

“Here in the state of Victoria we have anti-association laws that have not been as effective as we would like — I think that is well documented,” Mr Hill said.

“There has been some work that we’re doing with the Department of Justice and Community Safety, which is supported by the government, to look at that suite of legislation.”

Detective Inspector Graham Banks of the Echo taskforce.

Mongols bikie Aaron Ong has been found guilty of murdering fruiterer Paul Virgona.

Mr Hill challenged the “Mexico” assessment of Victoria, saying the VIPER and Echo task forces ran vehicle checkpoints on every run coming into Victoria.

“We’ve been relentless in our approach to create disruption, hold people to account,” he said.

“There is no criminal offence, that we observe, without intervention, whether it be a traffic violation up to drug trafficking and possession of firearms.

“And, again, it’ll only be taken to another level going forward because Victoria Police will not tolerate any behaviour that will create harm or discomfort to the community of Victoria.”

A State Government spokeswoman said Victoria had a range of tough laws to combat organised crime, including FPOs, which are designed to target illegal guns and the crime networks who use them.

She said a stage two review of Victoria’s Criminal Organisation Laws had been commissioned to ensure the state had the strongest possible laws against organised crime.

“We’ll continue to work through the recommendations and any other considerations with Victoria Police to give them the tools and resources they need to continue to tackle this kind of criminal behaviour,” the spokeswoman said.

The government and relevant agencies are currently considering recommendations from the stage two review.

Though the anti-association rules remain unused, a range of laws have been beefed-up and fresh police units created in recent years in Victoria.

They include:

THE Major Crime Bill, aimed at boosting asset confiscation laws and authorities’ power to investigate, seize proceeds of crime, including cryptocurrency, and disrupt organised crime on the black market.

THE rolling out of FPOs and tougher penalties for those who traffick commercial quantities of drugs for criminal organisations.

POLICE creating the illicit firearms unit and the VIPER task force.

- Additional reporting by Kieran Rooney and Jon Kaila