Melanie Maeseele
goldcoast.com.au
GOLD Coast MP Steve Ciobo has called on the Federal Government to help curb the city's escalating crime crisis and outlaw motorcycle gangs.
Addressing Parliament last night, the federal Moncrieff MP said the government should take action and establish a strike force within the Australian Federal Police to assist local police in tackling organised crime.
"I think it is high time, frankly, that the Federal Government got its priorities right,'' Mr Ciobo said.
"It is high time that the Federal Government initiated a strike force and a dedicated squad of federal police, with beefed-up resources if need be, to deal with this issue in South-East Queensland.''
"We need a dedicated squad to tackle organised crime with specific focus on outlaw motorcycle gangs and the thugs that operate them, who in turn infect Australian children with the drugs they try to peddle. It is high time that this government made that a priority.''
He said Queensland Premier Campbell Newman's recent announcement of 100 extra police for the Gold Coast would help.
He said there was already cooperation between federal and state police on bikie gangs.
But a dedicated joint strike force, with extra resources, would be more effective, he said.
Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said he was confident the state government's moves to boost police numbers on the Gold Coast would yield results.
"Our new police minister Jack Dempsey has taken a particular focus on tackling organised crime and I'm sure that those efforts will go a long way to addressing the problem,'' he said.
Addressing Parliament last night, the federal Moncrieff MP said the government should take action and establish a strike force within the Australian Federal Police to assist local police in tackling organised crime.
"I think it is high time, frankly, that the Federal Government got its priorities right,'' Mr Ciobo said.
"It is high time that the Federal Government initiated a strike force and a dedicated squad of federal police, with beefed-up resources if need be, to deal with this issue in South-East Queensland.''
"We need a dedicated squad to tackle organised crime with specific focus on outlaw motorcycle gangs and the thugs that operate them, who in turn infect Australian children with the drugs they try to peddle. It is high time that this government made that a priority.''
He said Queensland Premier Campbell Newman's recent announcement of 100 extra police for the Gold Coast would help.
He said there was already cooperation between federal and state police on bikie gangs.
But a dedicated joint strike force, with extra resources, would be more effective, he said.
Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said he was confident the state government's moves to boost police numbers on the Gold Coast would yield results.
"Our new police minister Jack Dempsey has taken a particular focus on tackling organised crime and I'm sure that those efforts will go a long way to addressing the problem,'' he said.