Australian police storm Hells Angels' hideouts

[midas]

New legislation to make life hell for bikies

They are the 1 per cent which have dominated almost 100 per cent of the government's time for the past two weeks.

And now they could spend up to 30 years in a supermax prison, where they will remain in their cell for 23 hours a day, without a television or gym, and allowed just one supervised visit a week with family. All for a charge that would net non-gang members less than half that time.

"This will be the toughest experience that one can have in the jail system in Australia, while still compiling with our international obligations," Premier Campbell Newman said.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/new-legislation-to-make-life-hell-for-bikies-20131015-2vkyn.html

[GrantSmith]

for all those who said these laws wouldn't pass..............they did

Tough QLD anti bikie laws pass through Parliament

Updated 8 hours 19 minutes ago

Queensland's Parliament has passed what are being described as the toughest anti-bikie laws in the country. Some critics say they are draconian and pointless but Campbell Newman says his Government is determined to demonstrate how serious it is about tackling mindless violence caused by outlaw motorcycle gangs.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-16/tough-qld-anti-bikie-laws-pass-through-parliament/5025486

To be followed up with a court injunction and then a challenge in the high court...

[briboy]

QLD Gov say they are going to crush OMCG bikes, I would think that they will have trouble finding a scrap yard willing to do the job as some people in the real world value their life/family and business, the MP`s are talking tough I wonder if they care to get their hands dirty doing the dirty work, I am not on the side of the bike gangs but some common sense needs to be put into these laws, a social ride between friends being harassed by cops is WAY over the top.

[Shurup]

Thought I was reading something coming out of Thai cabinet....nope, just checked again, it's Australia...

[Pitts]

Lol. its a Motorcycle Club , not the KKK. and there is nothing illegal to have international friends from foreign countries. there are also Thai MC who welcome foreigners to their clubs. what kind of fascists you are?

Did you read the original story? Here, from the end of it:

"Earlier this year, police launched a series of dawn raids across Sydney targeting outlaw motorcycle gangs, seizing firearms, explosives and drugs."

There is nothing wrong with having a motorcycle club or a car club or a boat club. What's wrong is what these particular people are doing. IMHO it has nothing to do with motorcycles and everything to do with criminal activity and that's where I think the powers that be miss the point.

It is unfortunate that motorcycles, while awesome, hold an appeal for those less inclined to abide by the law. You are dead right in that the police are focusing on the wrong aspect. These people are criminals, however they commute to commit their crimes is irrelevant.

[midas]

for all those who said these laws wouldn't pass..............they did

Tough QLD anti bikie laws pass through Parliament

Updated 8 hours 19 minutes ago

Queensland's Parliament has passed what are being described as the toughest anti-bikie laws in the country. Some critics say they are draconian and pointless but Campbell Newman says his Government is determined to demonstrate how serious it is about tackling mindless violence caused by outlaw motorcycle gangs.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-16/tough-qld-anti-bikie-laws-pass-through-parliament/5025486

To be followed up with a court injunction and then a challenge in the high court...

And based on precedent I'm quite sure the High Court of Australia will

maintain a " consistent " approach to this matter

High Court rejects Finks motorcycle club's bid to have Queensland criminal organisation laws declared invalid

THE failed High Court bid by outlaw motorcycle club the Finks will boost the state's push for other laws cracking down on the "Mr Bigs of the underworld", according to Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie.

Mr Bleijie said the failed bid to tear-up the Newman Government's criminal organisation laws gave impetus to new laws targeting unexplained wealth.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/high-court-rejects-finks-motorcycle-clubs-bid-to-have-queensland-criminal-organisation-laws-declared-invalid/story-e6freoof-1226597039346

Edited October 16, 2013 by midas

[GrantSmith]

Precedent?

2 previous decisions by the very same court overturned both NSW (2009) and SA (2011) - that's precedent...

Your quoted article is different to the issue at hand and was prior to the proposed laws being put before parliament - which as we all know passed through this morning - they will be challenged in the High Court - again - of that I'm quite sure.

[midas]

Precedent?

2 previous decisions by the very same court overturned both NSW (2009) and SA (2011) - that's precedent...

Your quoted article is different to the issue at hand and was prior to the proposed laws being put before parliament - which as we all know passed through this morning - they will be challenged in the High Court - again - of that I'm quite sure.

Yes, well, time will tell

but it's interesting that Nicholas Cowdery, who was the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions until 2011, has commented that he believes the new law in Queensland avoids the "fatal flaws" that have seen similar legislation from NSW and South Australia defeated in the High Court.

Edited October 16, 2013 by midas

[Shurup]

Precedent?

2 previous decisions by the very same court overturned both NSW (2009) and SA (2011) - that's precedent...

Your quoted article is different to the issue at hand and was prior to the proposed laws being put before parliament - which as we all know passed through this morning - they will be challenged in the High Court - again - of that I'm quite sure.

Yes, well, time will tell

but it's interesting that Nicholas Cowdery, who was the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions until 2011, has commented that he believes the new law in Queensland avoids the "fatal flaws" that have seen similar legislation from NSW and South Australia defeated in the High Court.

No flaws? This law got as many flaws as a piece of Swiss cheese got holes in it!

What does the law says counts as a group, how far from each other the pairs of riders would have to be riding? 500meters? 1 km? If they want to get somewhere to commit a crime, they'd travel in smaller spread groups, or what stops them from driving a car/pickup/minibus if they want to beat a sh!t out of someone as a group? This law targets motorcyclists, not the gangs!

Edited October 17, 2013 by Shurup

[GrantSmith]

[

Yes, well, time will tell

but it's interesting that Nicholas Cowdery, who was the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions until 2011, has commented that he believes the new law in Queensland avoids the "fatal flaws" that have seen similar legislation from NSW and South Australia defeated in the High Court.

Ummm... No he didn't..

http://abc.net.au/news/2013-10-16/qlds-tough-anti-bikie-laws-passed-after-marathon-parliament-/5025242

Last night at a forum at the University of New South Wales, Former NSW director of public prosecutions Nicholas Cowdery added his voice to the condemnation.

Australia's outlaw motorcycle gangs

Expand

Professor Cowdery, QC, held the job for 17 years before retiring two years ago.

"The idea of special jails and so on is nonsense - I think we're getting a bit hysterical about bikies," he said.

"There are some clubs and there are some members of motorcycle clubs who are pests, who commit serious criminal offences, and who should be dealt with by the criminal law.

"But the mere fact of membership of an organisation of that kind should not have criminal consequences."

He says Australians enjoy "the freedom of association, the freedom of movement, freedom of speech, freedom of action in this country".

"To truly outlaw - because that's what the Government is doing - clubs and membership of clubs is, in my view, a step too far and contrary to the fundamental freedoms that we should enjoy in this country," he said.

"Legislation of this kind would be totally impossible in the ACT and Victoria where they do have human rights legislation, and I think that's a good test to apply.

"If it wouldn't pass in those two jurisdictions - why should it be able to be enacted in Queensland?

"[it's] scaremongering - scaremongering by the media, scaremongering by the politicians."

Not sure how you conclude midas that Prof. Comfrey QC agrees with these laws in QLD?

[Shurup]

Why not take it a step farther and make motorcycles illegal?