Australia, Baillieu to take on bikers

OFF THE WIRE
Source: geelongadvertiser.com.au

TED Baillieu has put himself on a collision course with biker gangs with plans to outlaw them, demolish their club fortifications and have illegal clubhouses confiscated and sold.

A month out from the state election, however, Mr Baillieu's sudden angst over biker gangs seems more than a little self-serving.

He's quite right, of course, to tackle the Brumby government for a soft approach to crime.

Its failure to provide sufficient police on Victorian streets and roads or to provide a fair dinkum independent commission against corruption are reprehensible.

So too its attempts to silence critics such as the state ombudsman and to paper over its chronic shortcomings with taxpayer-financed political advertising.

If Mr Baillieu wants to be taken seriously about fighting crime he needs to spell out with similar detail his plans to tackle these subjects as well.