Joint Investigation Reveal Possible Links Between Italian Mafia Group With Senior Australian Politicians

In a joint investigation by Four Corners and Fairfax newspapers, it found possible links between the Calabrian Mafia and senior Australian politicians.

The report prepared by two of Australia’s biggest media houses, known for their relentless investigative journalism claims that the criminal group, also known as ‘Ndrangheta’ used political donations as a means to legitimising its illegal activities.

Apart from being one of world’s most powerful criminal groups, Ndrangheta is famed for its key role in international drug trafficking. In Australia, the group is reportedly involved in both legitimate as well as illegitimate businesses, known for using its clout notoriously to run trades around fruits, vegetables and drugs.

The investigation also showed long-standing relationships between popular and suspected criminals and several Australia’s senior politicians. The report claimed, once at a fundraising event, the former Prime Minister John Howard and many other Liberal Party heavyweights were spotted with a person who had deep mafia connections.

The donours reportedly acted on behalf of a mafia boss, arranging meetings for Liberal and Labor MPs to discuss issues related to their businesses.

A Godfather Act

The report also hinted that it found a big-shot mafia’s son employed at the Australian embassy in Rome while former Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone was ambassador. The Italian authorities believed to be sharing sensitive information about the mafia boss through the embassy, prior to his son’s appointment there.

However, there is no direct evidence the placement led to any major lapses. Meanwhile, the former Liberal minister in the Howard government, Ms. Vanstone, had allegedly granted a visa to a man with an extensive criminal history in Italy. Important to mention that Ms. Vanstone is no longer associated with active politics.

Donations System Not Supervised Properly

The investigation found out "loopholes" in the country’s donations system, and their inabilities fix it for a long time.

Freedom of Information laws helped the joint operation team obtain a 2009 AFP report that titled a "lack of checks and oversight" to show the significant failure of the Australian political donations system. "As it stands, political parties and candidates can receive significant support and financial contributions through avenues not covered by the statutory disclosure regime," the AFP report mentioned.

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