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Friday, February 17, 2012

AUSTRALIA - Lawyers will back bikie clampdown



Bikies

OFF THE WIRE
Daniel Wills
 adelaidenow.com.au
LAWYERS have backed a new push to crack down on outlaw motorcycle gangs, saying a radical new legislative approach is needed.
In a landmark shift from lawyers' long-running and vehement opposition to anti-association legislation, Law Society president Ralph Bonig told The Advertiser  the crackdown would be given "qualified support".
Mr Bonig said Attorney-General John Rau had made significant changes to his latest package of proposed anti-gang laws since they were released for public consultation last year.
However, the Law Society still has concerns about elements of the proposed laws which prevent defendants viewing evidence against them and presume them guilty until proven innocent.
"There needs to be a mechanism put in place that is a serious deterrent or gives significant powers to rein in and control certain groups of people who may think they're above the law," Mr Bonig said.
"You will have bits and pieces which do, on their face, go against fundamental principles.
"It is unfortunate that a minority group in the community at the moment are causing such significant changes to the law, but if at the moment the law is unable to cope with their activities we need to find a balance to control them."
Mr Rau yesterday introduced a suite of legislation in Parliament to tackle gangs, some parts of which were defeated, delayed or dramatically modified by the Upper House last year.
He has also changed anti-association legislation overturned in the High Court, so that now the power to declare a gang illegal would rest with a Supreme Court judge rather than the Attorney-General.
Mr Rau said the new measures were a "surgical strike" and further violence was likely if there were no changes.
Opposition justice spokesman Stephen Wade said the Government had failed to tackle the problem.
"Bikies don't respond to opinion polls or hollow threats. It's time to stop talking tough and time to be tough," he said.