Government to ban bikie gangs

[FORD EB 4.0]

November 20, 2007 12:00am

BIKIE gangs like the Hells Angels, the Gypsy Jokers and the Finks will be banned in South Australia, under new laws the state government says are the toughest in the world.

Premier Mike Rann today declared bikie gangs "terrorists within our community," saying they are involved in drug trafficking, murder, extortion, intimidation and firearms smuggling.

"This is an evil within our nation and we in South Australia intend to lead Australia in the fight against bikie gangs," he said.

Detailing the crackdown today, Attorney-General Michael Atkinson brushed aside concerns it could spark an all-out war between police and gang members and that government officials might be at risk.

"All of us, from the premier down, the police and the director of public prosecutions (DPP) have to put ourselves on the line in this struggle against outlaw motorcycle gangs," he said.

"Someone's got to take the risk."

The government will target at least eight groups with new laws allowing the attorney-general to declare a bikie gang an outlawed organisation and to confiscate their assets, even their Harley-Davidsons.

Mr Atkinson named the groups as the Hells Angels, Gypsy Jokers, the Finks, the Rebels, the Descendants, the Bandidos, the Red Devils and the Mob Shitters.

Police said that involved about 200 full gang members although that number would swell if prospects, associates and various hangers-on were included.

Once gangs were declared outlawed, police would be able to seek court control orders to prevent gang members meeting together or communicating with one another, essentially banning any gatherings or group runs on the state's roads.

Any breach of control orders could result in a five-year jail sentence.

Police would also get wider powers to dismantle gang headquarters and seize assets and would be able to force gang members to reveal the source of any unexplained wealth or income.

Mr Atkinson said the new laws would send a clear message to criminal bikie gangs members and their offsiders.

"We are coming after them and we will hit them where it hurts by taking away their ill-gotten gains, their Harley-Davidsons and their liberty," he said.

But he said the legislation also would include safeguards such as a provision for a yearly judicial review, a parliamentary review after five years and a 10-year sunset clause.

Mr Rann described the new laws, which were introduced to state parliament today, as the toughest aimed at bikie gangs anywhere in the world.

"We cannot find anywhere in the world where this level of response to bikie gangs has been taken," he said.

Mr Rann said bikie gangs were now sophisticated organisations that hired top lawyers to try to frustrate the will of the parliament, the courts, the police and the people.

"They are essentially involved in manufacturing and selling drugs but also in a whole range of offences including murder, extortion, intimidation and the illegal importation of firearms," he said.

"These people are terrorists within our community.

"These groups have been described for years as outlaw organisations, we will give the attorney-general the right to declare a criminal bikie gang an outlawed organisation."

As well as the new laws, the government will also provide an extra $14 million to pay for more police and more resources within the office of the DPP to fight bikie gangs.

The increase will bring to 45 the number of police working directly to combat their illegal activities.

The new laws are expected to be debated by the parliament next year with a view to coming into force by mid-2008.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegrap...001021,00.html

[XCSEDAN]

ummm good luck....

[scoupedy]

Yeah good luck to em ....who's gunna make em? everytime they turn up the cops become very shy

[fangq]

Originally Posted by scoupedy

Yeah good luck to em ....who's gunna make em? everytime they turn up the cops become very shy

My jaw dropping moment occurred recently on the Bruce Highway ( 3 lane Pine Rivers ) when I was passed by lots of bikies 130 km/hr plus. Not one had been pulled over by the cycle copper with his lidar a little up the road.
Steve

[kyro_02]

Originally Posted by fangq

My jaw dropping moment occurred recently on the Bruce Highway ( 3 lane Pine Rivers ) when I was passed by lots of bikies 130 km/hr plus. Not one had been pulled over by the cycle copper with his lidar a little up the road.
Steve

you should have followed lead the bikies :P, i have had scary moments in a car and my ol bike where i was certain i was stung.

the guy on the gun was probably having a cuppa and relaxing

[kyro_02]

gangs? ... CLUBS.. lol

so the minority of the trouble makers to "ruin it" , government abolish being associated with a club? 1%er's, good luck lol

[bArNsY]

it will just make their dealing more "underground"
i know one thing though.....never off a bikie gang!

[rodderz]

What the bet there's few more cruises that just happen to travel through SA because of this news...lol

[revcore]

It's funny you know, As soon as people mention the word "Bikie" they automatically think of big mean blokes on Harleys that go around terrorising people and undertaking illegal activities. In some cases this may be true but not all. There is too much stereotyping associated with bikies. My cousin Mark who is a police officer in Melbourne has been associated with various task forces througout the years looking into bikie gangs and some of what he was telling me really blew me away......He told me that in some cases the police actually stir up annomosity between the police and bikie gangs to make it look like the police are clamping down on them to allay the publics fear towards bikies.
I can't help but feel that in some cases the bikies are getting the rough end of the stick, But those bikies who set out to cause trouble and indulge in illegal activities should be dealt with accordingly.

[flappist]

Much as I have no time for these "Bikies" I wonder if should this be successful the do gooders use the same idea to remove hoons, streetracers and other car criminals by banning "terrorist" organisations like the "Falcon GT Club of Australia" or "terrorist" communication networks like "Australian Ford Forums".

[Mark351]

Originally Posted by flappist

Much as I have no time for these "Bikies" I wonder if should this be successful the do gooders use the same idea to remove hoons, streetracers and other car criminals by banning "terrorist" organisations like the "Falcon GT Club of Australia" or "terrorist" communication networks like "Australian Ford Forums".

They won't be successful, but you can almost bet they'll expand it to include bike clubs and car clubs 'just in case'.

[JG66ME]

Originally Posted by flappist

Much as I have no time for these "Bikies" I wonder if should this be successful the do gooders use the same idea to remove hoons, streetracers and other car criminals by banning "terrorist" organisations like the "Falcon GT Club of Australia" or "terrorist" communication networks like "Australian Ford Forums".

My feelings exactly. Its just the thin edge of the wedge.

Remember when the day you dropped a wheelie with your 3 on the tree Falcon/Kingswood, fired an SLR on the range when dressed in JGs and had your way with a lass at the DRIVE IN was just a passage of right?

I own a Kwaka Z900 A4. I dont consider myself the toe cutter. If I nip down to the bakery in Gisborne to have breakfast with the Old Farts MC will i get the same traetment as these gangs?

Sad

[Bent8]

Originally Posted by flappist

Much as I have no time for these "Bikies" I wonder if should this be successful the do gooders use the same idea to remove hoons, streetracers and other car criminals by banning "terrorist" organisations like the "Falcon GT Club of Australia" or "terrorist" communication networks like "Australian Ford Forums".

Me think's that's where this approach is headed aswell, it's about the consolidation of Govt power...I have a few other theories but let's stick to the facts here...

Of course, as with anything they will have to convince a certain portion of the public that this or that group is a menace to society before their measure's can be implemented...and the Govt will go to such extreme's as creating scapegoats to get their way...just look at history.

If you read Section 802 of the USA Patriot Act, you'll get the general idea of who the US Govt considers a terrorist, Section 802 define's the term domestic terrorism, and the definition is “any action that endangers human life that is a violation of any Federal or State law.” :

Let's see how far they get with this...it'll be interesting to see that's for sure.

[mik]

as long as they only target the crims and don`t tar all with one brush , it seems its past that stage though.

[MITCHAY]

Sounds just like all enthusiasts being branded hoons because of certain few idiots :

Some people just have no common sense at all!

[bob 351]

: :: : : : : : : : : :: : there gunna what yeah right lot of goverment's have said that what are they looking for trouble not that im saying there will be any BUT

[MNM96]

Originally Posted by bob 351

: :: : : : : : : : : :: : there gunna what yeah right lot of goverment's have said that what are they looking for trouble not that im saying there will be any BUT

WTF did you say? Is it easy to post a couple of thousand times if you use too many Smilies, and too few Punctuation Marks?

[Falcon_Phill]

So move to NSW. Solved.

[BA_Turbs]

Originally Posted by Falcon_Phill

So move to NSW. Solved.

Exactly. Except it will be the bikies that move! Wait for them all to flood into Victoria where it is well known that the 'Taskforce' that looks into bikies consists of two Detectives and.... Oh wait, that's right, its just two detectives!

Reading the article, it would seem that a gang must actually be named before the legislation can effect it, for instance a car club going on a cruise could not all of a sudden fall foul of these laws. They would need to have been declared illegal prior. I don't live in South Australia, so I don't know if the government there can be trusted to enforce the laws fairly.

[Sourbastard]

all car enthusiasts are hoons
all bikies are criminals
doesnt sound like stereotyping at all.

[fmc351]

Its a proposal yet to be debated. In the end they will grant the current task force a new urn for the cafeteria, maybe some iced vovos and napkins.

What else is going on in SA at the moment?

[Green X]

Don't know how this will work, like making it illegal is going to change anything, Like oh gee the gang i run with is now illegal guess i will have to stop running drugs and dealing in stolen goods and find somthing else to do.

My experience with Bikies is just don't go looking for trouble, I work with 2 guys who I Know have had ties with Bikie gangs, one of em was my supervisor for a wile and is very Knowledgeable in Engineering and the other i work with on the tools, never really had any issues with em and they have some interesting things to say as well, but know I wouldn't want to **** em off.

[kyro_02]

they're going after bikie clubs because they are 1%'ers, that'll be the same with car clubs(although obviously not to the same extent of bikie clubs.)

i wonder how this will all turn out, he he

[Shaggzy]

I did a head gasket on a landcrusier for the top dog of a motorcycle gang in victoria a few months back and in return he told me he can hook me up with anything i ever needed or deal with anyone who ever bothered me. Defineatly wouldnt like to be on the wrong side of them

[bob 351]

Originally Posted by BMX_datto

I did a head gasket on a landcrusier for the top dog of a motorcycle gang in victoria a few months back and in return he told me he can hook me up with anything i ever needed or deal with anyone who ever bothered me. Defineatly wouldnt like to be on the wrong side of them

THEY ARE THE TYPE OF PEOPLE YOU WANT TO BE ON THE GOOD SIDE OF

[Shaggzy]

Originally Posted by bob 351

THEY ARE THE TYPE OF PEOPLE YOU WANT TO BE ON THE GOOD SIDE OF

AHAHA well i spose id rather be on the good side of them than there bad side....

[SLO-04L]

im delivering pizzas at the moment while i study, one night i was sent on a delivery to an adress when i got there i realised it was a "bikie Club room" you know one of those places you hear stories about as a teenager "dont walk past there dont look at it" you know the places i mean, any way i got there and started shitting myself figured if any problems arrise just give em the pizza and cash and go back to the shop.

anyway i rang the doorbell and two huge bearded tatoo'd guys came out i really started shitting myself but they were probably some of the nicest people i have ever met, they asked me if id ever seen inside invited me in and offered me a drink and everything,

any way long story short they have become quite regular customers and have invited me and all the others at the shop around when they are holding special functions (they even held something for mothers day!!) i was invited to come down to Pondi to watch the sand drags and i never once felt unsafe and had a great day
so i guess what im saying is that im sure that some of them are involved in illegal activities but i just hope that the government doesnt paint them all with the same brush and ruin what seems to be a very valid and legal social outlet for many people

[Citric GT]

The Grey Nomads are next...

[ebxr8240]

Is there any elections on at present???

[ILLaViTaR]

Good riddance I say.

Although confiscating their bikes seem harsh???

They should imo get some sort of payout for it or the government should auction them off and give the money to the owners.