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Monday, October 14, 2013

Australia - Outlaw motorcycle gang members to be sent to bikie-only prison at Woodford Correctional Centre as part of Newman Government's push against bikies

OFF THE WIRE


BIKIES members could find themselves facing an extra 15 to 25 years jail time if they are found guilty of an offence under the new laws to be introduced into State Parliament today.
Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said under the Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Bill, bikie club members will be sentenced to an extra 15 years on top of the jail time awarded for the original offence.
ACTION: Bandidos boss banned from the Coast
REVEALED: Faces of accused bikie brawlers
BIKIES: Queensland's sons of anarchy
If they are also an office bearer then they will be sentenced to another 10 years on top of that.
"A vicious lawless associate will be sentenced for the declared offence but will (be sentenced to) a further 15 years mandatory imprisonment cumulative to any imprisonment imposed for the declared offence and a further 10 years cumulative imprisonment if they are also an office bearer," Mr Bleijie said.
"The Bill makes clear that extra punishment is mandatory and cannot be reduced by the sentencing court.
"Further, parole does not apply to the extra punishment unless the associate cooperates with the law enforcement authorities."
CRIME SCENE: Man, woman shot at Robina
BIKIE: The making of a Fink
"The new punishment regime will apply to people who participate in the affairs of criminal organisations and commit offences of or for the purpose of participating in the affairs of the organisation," he said
"Such offenders will be vicious lawless associates and subject to extra punishment beyond that which would apply to the commission of the declared offence."
The Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Bill is one of three new colourfully titled pieces of legislation have been introduced to Queensland Parliament as part of the Newman Government's campaign to crush criminal motorcycle gangs.
- See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/outlaw-motorcycle-gang-members-to-be-sent-to-bikieonly-prison-at-woodford-correctional-centre-as-part-of-newman-government8217s-push-against-bikies/story-e6frg6n6-1226739885791#sthash.PMLwg7RW.dpuf
Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said under the Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Bill, bikie club members will be sentenced to an extra 15 years on top of the jail time awarded for the original offence.
ACTION: Bandidos boss banned from the Coast
REVEALED: Faces of accused bikie brawlers
BIKIES: Queensland's sons of anarchy
If they are also an office bearer then they will be sentenced to another 10 years on top of that.
"A vicious lawless associate will be sentenced for the declared offence but will (be sentenced to) a further 15 years mandatory imprisonment cumulative to any imprisonment imposed for the declared offence and a further 10 years cumulative imprisonment if they are also an office bearer," Mr Bleijie said.
"The Bill makes clear that extra punishment is mandatory and cannot be reduced by the sentencing court.
"Further, parole does not apply to the extra punishment unless the associate cooperates with the law enforcement authorities."
CRIME SCENE: Man, woman shot at Robina
BIKIE: The making of a Fink
"The new punishment regime will apply to people who participate in the affairs of criminal organisations and commit offences of or for the purpose of participating in the affairs of the organisation," he said
"Such offenders will be vicious lawless associates and subject to extra punishment beyond that which would apply to the commission of the declared offence."
The Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Bill is one of three new colourfully titled pieces of legislation have been introduced to Queensland Parliament as part of the Newman Government's campaign to crush criminal motorcycle gangs.
A cell in Woodford Correctional Centre. Picture: File
A cell in Woodford Correctional Centre. Picture: File Source: News Limited


Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie has also introduced the Tattoo Parlours Bill and the Criminal Law Criminal Gangs Destruction Amendment Bill.
Mr Bleijie said the laws would help the government "draw the line on criminal motorcycle gangs in Queensland".
"The (Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment) dill is intended to deter individuals from participating in these criminal organisations, encourage persons involved in such organisations to cooperate with law enforcement to avoid severe penalties and break the morale of members in criminal motorcycle gangs," said Mr Bleijie.
He said penalties would include 18-months jail for any member of a criminal motorcycle gang found to own or operate a tattoo parlour, and up to seven years jail for those members who gather in groups.
Premier Campbell Newman said law-abiding motorcyclists had nothing to fear from the "world's toughest legislation" but asked for their patience if police asked to see their credentials.

Bikie Blitz 1:52

There are fears Queensland's re-emerging as a police state, with the war on bikies intensifying


He said his government would not stop until bikie gangs were eradicated from the state.
"These criminal thugs clearly have not got the message," said Mr Newman.
"This government and the people of Queensland have had enough.
"They (the new laws) are not just designed to contain the gangs or manage them. They are designed to destroy them."
In other news, members of outlaw motorcycle gangs jailed in Queensland will be sent to a bikie-only prison facility where they will be denied access to gym equipment and kept in their cells for 23 hours a day.
The centre, to be established at the ultra-secure Woodford Correctional Centre, will form a core part of the Newman Government's attempt to drive outlaw bikie gangs from Queensland.
Convicted gang members imprisoned at the facility will also be denied televisions and be subject to a more stringent regime of drug testing and searches.
All calls unrelated to their legal representation will be monitored and their mail opened and censored while visitor contact will be restricted to one hour a week.


Bikie gang leaders front Brisbane court 1:27

The leader of a Gold Coast bikie gang has applied for bail after he was arrested for steroid possession.



Bikie members already in Queensland prisons will also be transferred to the new facility.
The bikie gang-only facility, likely to draw comparisons from critics with Guantánamo Bay, is aimed at denying them the ability to use prison time to recruit new members and widen their drug distribution networks.
Premier Campbell Newman said the facility would form a core part of his Government's commitment to get criminal motorcycle gang members off Queensland streets.
"We will use a maximum security facility at Woodford Correctional Centre to incarcerate these thugs," Mr Newman told The Courier-Mail.
"Consideration will also be given to recommissioning currently unused maximum security units at other prisons across Queensland."
Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said establishing a bikies-only facility would thwart their ability to use prison time as a recruitment drive and business-development opportunity.
"These criminals use their time in prison to recruit new members and continue criminal activities including the distribution of drugs and intimidation of prison staff," Mr Bleijie said.
Establishing the facility will be an integral part of sweeping legislation to be introduced and passed through State Parliament this week.
The new laws will also automatically ban bikies from accessing bail and hand greater investigative powers to the Crime and Misconduct Commission.
Civil libertarians and members of the legal fraternity have condemned the proposed bikie crackdown as unnecessary, ill-conceived and arrogant, claiming it was a return to Bjelke-Petersen era law and order policy.
However, Mr Newman said the Government was determined to ensure violent criminals faced stiff penalties.
"They will do hard time and I make no apologies for that,'' he said.
Mr Bleijie said the Government was also considering tougher penalties for crimes committed in prison, including weapon offences, assaults and drug use.
Penalties will also be tough for prison staff caught colluding with gang members.
"Make no mistake, if you do the crime, you will most definitely do the hard time,'' he said.
- reporting by Steven Wardill, Robyn Ironside and Sarah Vogler


New Powers 1:38

- See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/outlaw-motorcycle-gang-members-to-be-sent-to-bikieonly-prison-at-woodford-correctional-centre-as-part-of-newman-government8217s-push-against-bikies/story-e6frg6n6-1226739885791#sthash.PMLwg7RW.dpuf
BIKIES members could find themselves facing an extra 15 to 25 years jail time if they are found guilty of an offence under the new laws to be introduced into State Parliament today.
Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said under the Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Bill, bikie club members will be sentenced to an extra 15 years on top of the jail time awarded for the original offence.
ACTION: Bandidos boss banned from the Coast
REVEALED: Faces of accused bikie brawlers
BIKIES: Queensland's sons of anarchy
If they are also an office bearer then they will be sentenced to another 10 years on top of that.
"A vicious lawless associate will be sentenced for the declared offence but will (be sentenced to) a further 15 years mandatory imprisonment cumulative to any imprisonment imposed for the declared offence and a further 10 years cumulative imprisonment if they are also an office bearer," Mr Bleijie said.
"The Bill makes clear that extra punishment is mandatory and cannot be reduced by the sentencing court.
"Further, parole does not apply to the extra punishment unless the associate cooperates with the law enforcement authorities."
CRIME SCENE: Man, woman shot at Robina
BIKIE: The making of a Fink
"The new punishment regime will apply to people who participate in the affairs of criminal organisations and commit offences of or for the purpose of participating in the affairs of the organisation," he said
"Such offenders will be vicious lawless associates and subject to extra punishment beyond that which would apply to the commission of the declared offence."
The Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Bill is one of three new colourfully titled pieces of legislation have been introduced to Queensland Parliament as part of the Newman Government's campaign to crush criminal motorcycle gangs.
A cell in Woodford Correctional Centre. Picture: File
A cell in Woodford Correctional Centre. Picture: File Source: News Limited


Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie has also introduced the Tattoo Parlours Bill and the Criminal Law Criminal Gangs Destruction Amendment Bill.
Mr Bleijie said the laws would help the government "draw the line on criminal motorcycle gangs in Queensland".
"The (Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment) dill is intended to deter individuals from participating in these criminal organisations, encourage persons involved in such organisations to cooperate with law enforcement to avoid severe penalties and break the morale of members in criminal motorcycle gangs," said Mr Bleijie.
He said penalties would include 18-months jail for any member of a criminal motorcycle gang found to own or operate a tattoo parlour, and up to seven years jail for those members who gather in groups.
Premier Campbell Newman said law-abiding motorcyclists had nothing to fear from the "world's toughest legislation" but asked for their patience if police asked to see their credentials.

Bikie Blitz 1:52

There are fears Queensland's re-emerging as a police state, with the war on bikies intensifying


He said his government would not stop until bikie gangs were eradicated from the state.
"These criminal thugs clearly have not got the message," said Mr Newman.
"This government and the people of Queensland have had enough.
"They (the new laws) are not just designed to contain the gangs or manage them. They are designed to destroy them."
In other news, members of outlaw motorcycle gangs jailed in Queensland will be sent to a bikie-only prison facility where they will be denied access to gym equipment and kept in their cells for 23 hours a day.
The centre, to be established at the ultra-secure Woodford Correctional Centre, will form a core part of the Newman Government's attempt to drive outlaw bikie gangs from Queensland.
Convicted gang members imprisoned at the facility will also be denied televisions and be subject to a more stringent regime of drug testing and searches.
All calls unrelated to their legal representation will be monitored and their mail opened and censored while visitor contact will be restricted to one hour a week.


Bikie gang leaders front Brisbane court 1:27

The leader of a Gold Coast bikie gang has applied for bail after he was arrested for steroid possession.



Bikie members already in Queensland prisons will also be transferred to the new facility.
The bikie gang-only facility, likely to draw comparisons from critics with Guantánamo Bay, is aimed at denying them the ability to use prison time to recruit new members and widen their drug distribution networks.
Premier Campbell Newman said the facility would form a core part of his Government's commitment to get criminal motorcycle gang members off Queensland streets.
"We will use a maximum security facility at Woodford Correctional Centre to incarcerate these thugs," Mr Newman told The Courier-Mail.
"Consideration will also be given to recommissioning currently unused maximum security units at other prisons across Queensland."
Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said establishing a bikies-only facility would thwart their ability to use prison time as a recruitment drive and business-development opportunity.
"These criminals use their time in prison to recruit new members and continue criminal activities including the distribution of drugs and intimidation of prison staff," Mr Bleijie said.
Establishing the facility will be an integral part of sweeping legislation to be introduced and passed through State Parliament this week.
The new laws will also automatically ban bikies from accessing bail and hand greater investigative powers to the Crime and Misconduct Commission.
Civil libertarians and members of the legal fraternity have condemned the proposed bikie crackdown as unnecessary, ill-conceived and arrogant, claiming it was a return to Bjelke-Petersen era law and order policy.
However, Mr Newman said the Government was determined to ensure violent criminals faced stiff penalties.
"They will do hard time and I make no apologies for that,'' he said.
Mr Bleijie said the Government was also considering tougher penalties for crimes committed in prison, including weapon offences, assaults and drug use.
Penalties will also be tough for prison staff caught colluding with gang members.
"Make no mistake, if you do the crime, you will most definitely do the hard time,'' he said.
- reporting by Steven Wardill, Robyn Ironside and Sarah Vogler


New Powers 1:38

- See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/outlaw-motorcycle-gang-members-to-be-sent-to-bikieonly-prison-at-woodford-correctional-centre-as-part-of-newman-government8217s-push-against-bikies/story-e6frg6n6-1226739885791#sthash.PMLwg7RW.dpuf