OFF THE WIRE
The South Australian Government will launch harsh new laws to crack down on outlaw motorcycle gxxgs in what Premier Jay Weatherill said was the state's top law-and-order priority.
The laws, designed to skirt a High Court ruling that overturned earlier anti-bikie legislation, follow the killing of 22-year-old Giovanni Focarelli and the wounding of his father, Vincenzo, in Adelaide on Monday night.
Focarelli snr had been associated with the Comancheros bikie club, but after leading the gxxg for a short period is reported to have been dumped and targeted by other members. Four attempts have been made on his life, and his tattoo parlour has been attacked several times, including a raid in which Giovanni was stabbed.
Father and son had recently been closely involved with the New BoyZ street gang, which threatened revenge for Giovanni Focarelli's death in the Prospect, Adelaide, shooting. A message on the New BoyZ Facebook site warned: "No stone will go left unturned."
Focarelli was shot four times, and was yesterday scheduled to undergo surgery at Royal Adelaide Hospital, including the removal of a bullet lodged in his skull.
Weatherill said the Government would not be diverted from its determination to "eradicate" bikie gxxgs, especially the Comancheros, Hells Angels and Finks. He said the three gxxgs had 122 members among them, 63 of whom were before the courts.
Attorney-General John Rau said new laws would be introduced to the state parliament within weeks, and would be drafted to ensure they would survive any new High Court challenge.
About four years ago, South Australia enacted tough laws which allowed the Government to outlaw gxxgs, order members not to associate with each other - even by phone - ban bikies from places or events where they could cause serious trouble, tear down clubroom fortifications and tighten bail conditions. The legislation, which became a model for other states, ran foul of the High Court when members of the Finks challenged provisions banning association with other bikies. The court ruled that the provisions were invalid because they compelled judges to make an order instead of allowing a decision based on the evidence and impinged on individual freedoms.
The new legislation will hand police greater powers to monitor gxxgs and seize weapons and assets, extend prohibitions to arms such as swords and martial arts weapons, allow police to provide licensing authorities with character assessments of people applying for liquor or security permits, and extend drug trafficking seizure provisions to assets not directly associated with changes laid against dealers.
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