AUSTRALIA - Queensland vows to resist federal bikie laws

OFF THE WIRE
Queensland will not bow to federal pressure to hand over any of its powers in its fight against criminal motorcycle gangs – or anything else.

The Australian newspaper has reported federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan has begun work on reforming the Commonwealth's unexplained wealth laws, which could override similar state laws.

But Premier Campbell Newman, who has promised the "toughest laws in Australia" to fight against organised crime activities, said Queensland would not back down.

"We will not be referring state powers in this matter," he said.

"We believe in the federation operating in the way the founding fathers intended, which is competition between the states.

"We want the best possible business environment, we want the safest possible community, and I am not going to ever agree to things which prevent the government of Queensland delivering the best possible outcome for Queenslanders."

A 2012 joint parliamentary committee examining the federal laws made 17 recommendations to improve them. They included "referral powers" from the states and territories.

However, Mr Newman said he had spoken to federal Attorney-General George Brandis on the phone on Wednesday morning and he had been assured "this isn't the case".

But it wouldn't matter if it was, Mr Newman said, because Queensland would not willingly hand over its legislative powers.

"We don't think that all the smart people are in Canberra," he said.

"We think there are plenty of smart people in Queensland who are capable of coming up with laws that are appropriate to deal with criminal gangs."

The state government passed its own unexplained wealth laws in May this year.

Under the tightened laws, the onus is on the accused to prove how they obtained their wealth, not on the state to prove it is the result of criminal activity.

Convicted drug traffickers will be forced to forfeit all their property, including gifts from six years ago, regardless of whether it was obtained legally or not.

The government will also rush through anti-racketeering legislation next week, bypassing the parliamentary committee process.

http://www.baysidebulletin.com.au/story/1831101/queensland-vows-to-resist-federal-bikie-laws/?cs=12