AUSTRALIA - Bikies secretly working inside government

OFF THE WIRE
A NATIONAL taskforce targeting the Rebels bikie club believes its members have infiltrated "positions of trust" in up to 20 federal and state government departments, including the Department of Defence and ASIC.

Officers attached to Taskforce Attero, run by the Australian Crime Commission (ACC), has Rebels members and associates with a "foothold" in government ranks.

The revelations follow a top-to-bottom analysis of the Rebels club by the ACC.

The names of more than 2000 members and associates across the country - including wives, girlfriends, friends, prospective members and nominees for the group - were put through databases to identify their work and business history, immigration status and tax records.

The Sunday Telegraph spoke with Attero senior investigator John De Candia and ACC NSW state manager Warren Gray, who said a small but significant number of people were red-flagged as part of the exercise.

"We are exposing Rebels and their associates in many positions of trust right across society, who are there for the advantage of the group," Mr Gray said

Superintendent De Candia, who has been leading the taskforce, said several government agencies - the names of which remain secret - had already taken steps to address their vulnerabilities.

"There are Rebels members and associates employed or linked with a number of Commonwealth departments - they (the departments) are working with us at the moment to address (the issue)," he said. It is understood up to 20 departments are talking with the ACC about specific employees that are active or linked to the club.

"I'm not saying in every case their employment is tainted but, make no mistake, they're not stupid and they will strategically look at different areas and people so they can get positioned. They might not talk to that person about anything to do with the Rebels ... for two years, but when the time is right ... they might only need a tiny skerrick of information which will be sufficient, but that gives them a foothold into that department."

Inquiries by The Sunday Telegraph have found Rebel associates with links to the RTA, Athletics NSW, The Star casino, Botany Bay Council, Australia Post and the Department of Education and Training. Another associate, a former NSW police officer, was removed from the force after being found guilty of selling cocaine and ecstasy to an undercover officer in 2010.

A senior Rebel said the police attention and targeting was based on unfounded claims of criminality that had no substance.
He said the vast majority of Rebels members adhered to strict club rules, did not break the law and were good people with ordinary jobs. The bad eggs, he said, were rarely patched members of the club.

"They're associates - they're someone who knows someone, they're not part of our club," the member said. "There's a lot of guys out there who name drop and that's our biggest problem."

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