OFF THE WIRE
Todd Cardy
perthnow.com.au
GANG LAWS: Anti-association laws to 'break the back' of Perth bikie gangs. Picture: Craig Borrow Source: Herald Sun
LAWS designed to smash outlaw motorcycle gangs in WA are set to pass State Parliament after Labor leader Mark McGowan today gave the green light to the controversial legislation.
The legislation, which is known as the bikie anti-association laws, will give the courts the power to jail bikie gang members for up to five years if they are caught associating with each other for a second time.Bikies riding motorcycles together, having a beer, and, even phoning or texting each other, will be banned under the new legislation, which allows judges to declare bikie gangs criminal organisations. The laws also set out longer sentences to gang members if they are caught committing crimes compared with those imposed on the general public.
Attorney-General Christian Porter told The Sunday Times in November last year that the laws would "crack the back of bikie gangs" once and for all in WA.
“There is no doubt - now I am not denigrating all people who ride motorbikes - that there are several bikie gangs which are heavily involved in organised crime and illegal matters,” Mr Barnett said.
Authorities in South Australia and New South Wales have tried to introduce similar anti-association laws, but they were shot down after challenges in the High Court. But Mr Barnett said the WA legislation was “very strong” and he was confident that the state would beat any potential constitutional challenge.
Labor leader Mark McGowan said that while he would support the legislation, he would push from some amendments.
"We will support them but we will seek to amend them to make them stack up in accordance with the High Court ruling both in South Australia and in New South Wales," he said.
"There are some potential difficulties there but we will be supporting the laws."
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