Australian politics, especially NSW politics, is extremely corrupt. It really makes me wonder how this country isn't a failed state, like a 3rd world banana republic.
As a Kiwi, the PM making himself a secret minister of all the things was bonkers, how the hell? They must pay parliament staffers there way better than here, that shit would've leaked in 5 minutes at the nearest pub to the Beehive.
But then, if Dutton ever ends up PM, I'll be wishing for the good old Scotty from Marketing days.
If you're an Australian, or Australian adjacent, it's not something you'd feel the need to provide citations for, tbh. Could ask for expansion on the point.
The clue is in the title there - it says nothing about the amount of corruption, only the perception of it. People notice the low-level corruption of petty officials asking for a few bucks, but they're largely blind to high-level corruption that takes place behind closed doors.
The same John Barilaro who resigned as deputy premiere of NSW because it was getting very hard to cover up all the corrupt schemes he was involved in. The same fella who created a special job paying six figures and then handed it to himself, while still in office: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Barilaro#Investment_NSW_a...
Of course, there's no corruption here - hence our infallible public rightly perceiving none of it! (/s)
Perception, yes. Being on top of the CPI tells nothing about how well the country is doing. It merely highlights how bad the situation is even for the runner-up.
I think it is foolish to think only poorer countries have organized crime. I am not as familiar with Australia but organized crime runs rampant in both the US and EU. It might just not be what you are expecting. Most developed regions of the world still have very strong organized crime outfits that run drugs, gambling and other illicit activities. It is just not obvious to the outside world. Even in the San Francisco Bay Area, massive triad organizations and businesses that most tech workers don't notice.
From an EU angle I am thinking about Christy Kinahan family. Massive drug network for the EU region. Currently has a $5million reward for information, his son has the same.
Edit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinahan_Organised_Crime_Group - estimated wealth of up to a 1billion Euros. Just an estimate but I think it puts the bracket of profit for these kinds of groups. This surely exists within Australia and perhaps even more so with its close ties to Asia.
Be real. Even the poster business is gang controlled in Melbourne. The territory is divided up between two companies, strictly enforced, by force, by bikies.
Have you ever been to Australia? Hell, at least treat yourself to the majesty of Australian crime drama, Holdens, RSAs, and calling people a "dog", Underbelly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqvOIr08iuQ
In New Zealand, over the last say, 10ish years at a guess, we've had a gradual but continual increase in organised crime activity - and an escalation in violence.
Because Australia started deporting non-citizens who had been jailed for 12 months+ (I think? Or, 12 months+, or could've been jailed for 5+ years or something, even if you weren't). And for historical "fun facts about Australia" racism-by-proxy reasons, very few Kiwis who've lived in Australia all their lives have been able to gain citizenship. So there's been numerous Australian criminals deported to NZ. Among them, Australian organised crime members. Around the same time NZ was getting into methamphetamine, a profitable and growing demand. And well, what do you when you're good at something that makes money, and you need money?
So we have seen establishment of chapters of Australian bikie gangs that we never had here before, and they're expanding into areas someone already called dibs on. Deportees have also joined the existing gangs, and the Australian veterans bring two key things to the table - access to networks of suppliers with good product, who didn't bother with NZ before, an effective distribution network, and the ability to provide guns and the means to get them past the ports.
The Aussies also brought Aussie gang culture - they were also a lot more shooty than the Kiwi gangs (although there were alway periodic flare-ups) and so when they starting shooting early in the argument, everyone else followed suit, now there's a lot of gang members being shot by gang members when previously might've been a stabbing or a good beating.
But yeah, no organised crime in Aussie lol. Certainly not organised crime that has often in the past compromised state police forces. There's also certainly not cartels looking for local partners who want to get some cocaine sold in a historically sadly undersupplied market, nothing bad will happen here. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/19/sydne...
How do you think Australia has a thriving drug scene without organized crime when almost every neighboring country has the death penalty for drug smuggling?
To repeat myself, if you can, treat yourself to the majesty of Australian crime drama, Holdens, RSAs, and calling people a "dog", Underbelly. Melbourne gang wars season 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqvOIr08iuQ
The season called Razor looks at the two women, a bootlegger, and a madam, who dominated the Sydney red light district in the 1920s, and had a rivalry that culminated in "the razor wars".
> There are some wannabes but this whole article reeks of "look at me, I am fighting crime in my spare time" nonsense.
Actually, Jordan Shanks has a long and very public track record of speaking truth to power, is a strong advocate for and proponent of quality investigative journalism. He was instrumental in the former extremely corrupt NSW (his local state) leadership resigning.
> Australia is not third world country where "organized crime" runs rampant.
Let's not forget the modern state of Australia originated from penal colonies shipped from the UK.... Bound to be a few bad apples in there, doncha know ;)
The police literally have video of the organized crime family members firebombing this guy's house. One of them was stupid enough to use their own vehicle and it's all on CCTV.
The property development company is openly run by the family and hired the deputy premier (Barilaro) to work for them...
Why wouldn't this look like obvious corruption to you?
Organized crime happens in all countries my friend. From Italy to the USA, Canada, Mexico, UK, Australia, Germany, Russia, China, Japan, everyone has some organized crime. If you deny your country has organized crime, they have gotten really good at bribing and hiding it.
I recommend watching the videos of friendlyjordies, he's been at it for years, pointing out the hypocrisies, corruption etc, he's certainly opinionated but he does come at it from a comedians perspective also.
He rubbed some people the wrong way in the political world and things escalated wildly. You're right about Australia not being a third world country, but that proves his point about how ridiculous the behavior of some politicians is.
Yes but if you’ve seen him around and watched his content as you’re suggesting, you know that he finds any opportunity to milk publicity. It’s happened before. Everyone should take this with a grain of salt.
> Australia is not third world country where "organized crime" runs rampant.
What do you mean? We have the meth wars in Melbourne back in the early 2000s between two literal organized crime syndicates, the St Kilda police station raid where the police were found to be hoarding guns and drugs in the ceiling. That's just off the top of my head. I haven't lived in Melbourne since 2008 but I imagine there's more that's happened since.
Friendlyjordies can rub people the wrong way and in the past has definitely acted like a bit of a gronk but I've always been so impressed with conviction and bravery when taking on issues in Australian politics and media, NSW is a bit fucked
They also appear to have spent a lot of money on SEO for "Coronation Property", it's a long way down until results that _aren't_ positive or neutral. It includes the principals and...
...some good old fashioned probably corrupt Aussie state politico stuff! Love this bit...
> Less than four months after joining Coronation, on June 17, Mr Barilaro was appointed NSW’s senior trade and investment commissioner to the Americas, a position Mr Barilaro created himself in November 2020 as NSW trade minister.
"Jobs for the boys" taken to a very singular level...
