Bikie wars !

Keeping Australia safe is a split responsibility between the men and women in uniform in the defence forces and the state police whose job it is to maintain civil order.    Events now playing out on the Gold Coast are casting doubt on our ability to keep control of the growing muscle of outlaw motorcycle gangs.

The " Red and white army " of the Hells Angels has long controlled the drug scene in Australia's tourist playground, but that is now under threat from the Mongols, the biggest, most violent and dangerous  criminal grouping in the USA.

The Mongols are coming to Australia and already they have incorporated the " Finks " to wear their colours and are busily recruiting members from other rival motorcycle clubs.  This is very much a game where numbers count, and the Hells Angels are desperately seeking to expand and are vigorously adding to their chapter.

In the past decade, the degree of violence from the bikie legions has increased sharply.  The bikie clubs are becoming more organized and money to create expansion is no problem - because of the huge profits from the drug trade that they control.    Sophisticated weaponry and  communication equipment of a standard used by military forces is at their disposal.

We are fast reaching the stage when criminal forces have lost their fear of our police and have the muscle to take them on in open combat.    They swagger through shopping centres in an aggressive style - and in numbers that are confronting.   It seems that this situation will worsen if the fight between the Mongols and Hells Angels becomes open warfare.

There are warnings to be learned on the world scene.   In Mexico, the drug gangs are now so powerful that they have the upper hand over both the police and the Mexican armed forces.   A similar situation exists in parts of the Philippines.

We need to fight this menace - before it gets completely out of control, and that requires courageous law changes to enable the police to do their job - and support from our armed forces if more fire power is needed.

The writing is clearly on the wall.    Our response will determine if the battle is joined now - or allowed to fester until it becomes a giant future war !