AUSTRALIA, SA may bypass courts in bikies fight

OFF THE WIRE
South Australia may tackle bikie gangs without involving the courts.

Attorney-General John Rau says he is considering a range of proposals to tackle the gangs but says none is without risk, so careful consideration is needed.
Part of the SA Government's anti-bikie laws on control orders was ruled invalid by the High Court last month on the grounds that it undermined the constitutional independence of magistrates.
Mr Rau said one of the proposals outlined in a report by retired District Court judge Alan Moss could see the SA Parliament outlaw criminal organisations without involving the courts.
He says nothing in the report went against a presumption of innocence or right to a fair trial.
"My task over the next few months is to pick my way through the various options and try and find an option that maximises our ability to deal with these people and at the same time does minimal damage to the civil liberties of law-abiding citizens," he said.
Mr Rau said the SA proposal could work in a similar way to the Commonwealth's approach to fighting terrorism.
"They identify a number of organisations which ... are deemed to be terrorist organisations and membership of an organisation such as that, if proven, is an offence," he said.