The Australian branch of the
Calabrian 'Ndrangheta mafia has significantly undermined
Australia's politics, according to a joint investigative report
conducted by the country's media, which claim that the criminal
group used political donations as a means to legitimizing its
activities.
A report from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and
Fairfax Media found that the 'Ndrangheta - known to be active in
operating drug trafficking and extortion rings as well as some
legitimate businesses - used donations to leading political
parties to cover up their illegal activities in the country.
Australia is currently dealing with a major
drug-trafficking problem, which the Tony Abbott government has
blamed on transnational groups.
'Ndrangheta, Italy's richest mafia, controls the European
cocaine trade and is considered one of the world's most powerful
criminal groups.
It is estimated to have made almost $60 billion in
revenues in 2014, through illegal activities such as drug
trafficking, and also legal and illegitimate business ventures,
including fruit sales and garbage disposal services. Their
earnings are thought to have made up almost 3 percent of Italy's
GDP in 2014.
The investigation found several links between known and
suspected criminals, and senior Australian politicians.
The report said that a man with "deep mafia associations"
met with former prime minister John Howard and other members of
his conservative Liberal Party of Australia at a fundraiser in
the early 2000s. However, the report did not suggest that Howard
knew of the connection.
The report also alleged that the son of another mafia boss
reportedly worked at the Australian embassy in Rome.
Prior to his placement, Italian authorities shared
sensitive information about the alleged criminal leader through
the embassy, at a time when former Liberal minister Amanda
Vanstone was ambassador to Italy, according to the report.
There was no suggestion that Vanstone knew of the criminal
links either, or that the placement resulted in a security
breach.
Vanstone is also being investigated for granting a visa -
while she served as immigration minister in Howard's
administration - to alleged crime boss Francesco Madafferi, who
was later convicted of drug trafficking and implicated in a
murder plot.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
