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Thursday, March 15, 2012

AUSTRALIA - Anti-gang laws pass NSW parliament

OFF THE WIRE
 news.smh.com.au
Tweaked laws that prevent members of criminal bikie gangs from associating with one another have been passed by NSW parliament.
The High Court last year struck out the legislation introduced by Labor after the fatal bashing of bikie associate Anthony Zervas at Sydney Airport.
The court accepted Sydney Hells Angel Derek Wainohu's claims they infringed personal liberties and undermined normal rules of evidence.
Judges also were not necessarily required to give reasons why they were outlawing gangs and there was no right to appeal decisions.
The Liberal government has since reworked the legislation as part of its response to recent shootings across Sydney.
The Crimes Amendment (Consorting and Organised Crime) Bill 2012 and the Crimes (Criminal Organisations Control) Bill 2012 passed both houses of parliament on Wednesday night.
"These modern reforms will give police the powers they need to fight criminal organisations," said NSW Attorney-General Greg Smith.
Supreme Court judges can now declare a gang involved in criminal activities a criminal organisation and impose control orders prohibiting gang members from associating with each other.
But they must give reasons for declaring a criminal organisation.
The laws have also introduced a new aggravated form of drive-by shooting, said NSW Police Minister Michael Gallacher.
"The NSW police force has been seeking these reforms for a number of years and this will help them in the fight against criminal organisations," he said in a statement on Thursday.