Extract from The Guardian
The Newman government’s focus on bikies drew attention away from other crimes in Queensland such as child exploitation, an inquiry has found.
The Queensland Organised Crime Commission of Inquiry’s report, released on Friday, shows the previous Liberal National Party (LNP) government directed a disproportionate amount of resources at bikie gangs at the expense of other areas like child exploitation, illicit drugs and financial crimes.
“The focus has been on OMCGs [Outlaw Motor Cycle Gangs], it has not been on other areas,” commissioner Michael Byrne QC said.
While the report said bikie gangs have a major role in illicit drug markets and extortion, OMCGs technically accounted for only 0.52% of all criminal activity between 2013-15.
“The focus upon and resources solely dedicated to the threat of Outlaw Motor Cycle Gangs by QPS [Queensland Police Service], has meant that other types of organised crime have not been appropriately investigated,” the report said.
The inquiry also highlighted the scourge of ice in the state, which it ranked as “the biggest threat to Queensland” because of its prevalence and consequences.
The report found there were a number of online child sex offender networks operating in the state and “a significant numbers of Queensland children caught up those enterprises”.
Financial crimes and money laundering were also an area of crime found to have developed significantly in recent years.
However, the report found no evidence of corruption in the government or public service.
The Queensland Organised Crime Commission of Inquiry’s report, released on Friday, shows the previous Liberal National Party (LNP) government directed a disproportionate amount of resources at bikie gangs at the expense of other areas like child exploitation, illicit drugs and financial crimes.
“The focus has been on OMCGs [Outlaw Motor Cycle Gangs], it has not been on other areas,” commissioner Michael Byrne QC said.
While the report said bikie gangs have a major role in illicit drug markets and extortion, OMCGs technically accounted for only 0.52% of all criminal activity between 2013-15.
“The focus upon and resources solely dedicated to the threat of Outlaw Motor Cycle Gangs by QPS [Queensland Police Service], has meant that other types of organised crime have not been appropriately investigated,” the report said.
The inquiry also highlighted the scourge of ice in the state, which it ranked as “the biggest threat to Queensland” because of its prevalence and consequences.
The report found there were a number of online child sex offender networks operating in the state and “a significant numbers of Queensland children caught up those enterprises”.
Financial crimes and money laundering were also an area of crime found to have developed significantly in recent years.
However, the report found no evidence of corruption in the government or public service.
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