Ethnic overtones in bikie wars

Kirstie Stofanik


Bikie gangs entered a new age and according to some that is why today’s confrontation now has ethnic overtones. Many say the turning point was from a move to loosen the riding rules and attract a new crowd. The transition really started when to happen when an influx of Lebanese members joined who joined in major cities. The influx changed bikie culture enormously. With the arrival of ethnic people in the clubs many of the clubs dropped the rules and the emphasis of just riding went away. The latest trouble ignited in February with a drive-by shooting at a tattoo parlour owned by Hells Angels as well as a bombing of a Hell’s Angels clubhouse. Many believe that these incidents were caused by the Lebanese and Pacific Islander communities. The new rules associated with these bikie clubs are causing much trouble in the communities.


I feel that something needs to be done now before things escalate into even bigger problems. I think that although the situation is difficult to attain right now something must be done because if not things will only worsen and the solution will be even more difficult to find.