Australia: organised crime, donations and political assassinations

This chapter explores the connections between organised crime groups and politics in Australia. There is considerable evidence of intersections between organised crime groups, including mafia groups and ethnic crime gangs, and politics at both state and federal levels in Australia. The interconnections include: (1) assassinations of politicians which have been linked to organised crime groups, especially those involved in drug trafficking; and (2) allegations of mafia ‘fundraising’ for political parties. The chapter analyses the interconnections between organised crime groups and politics in Australia, and locates them within the Australian socio-political context.