AUSTRALIA - Anti-bikie laws make it tough to get an 'honest job'

OFF THE WIRE
Getting an "honest job" is about to be a lot harder for bikies.
The government will push through amendments to a range of anti-association laws, which it proclaims to be among the toughest legislation in the country, to stop identified members of criminal gangs being able to apply for jobs in a raft of industries, including security and building, this week.
Last month, premier Campbell Newman urged bikie members to turn to a legitimate livelihood.
“Get an honest job, hand in your colours, join a real motorcycle enthusiasts' club and just enjoy riding. That is what we ask you to do,” he said then.
But the amendments to the legislation will hamper the efforts of those identified as bikie gang members to be able to do just that.
The government has not confirmed all the changes it is expected to make to its landmark legislation, but it is widely believed that adding the word “was” to its definition of who the laws applies to, currently worded as “a person [who] is a participant” of an identified gang, will be chief among them.
It means that bikie members who have handed in their colours will no longer be immune to prosecution under the legislation.
Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie is also expected to add the building industry and its affiliates, such as scaffolding and plastering, used car dealerships, security, fitness and tow truck operators to its list of businesses identified gang members will not be able to receive a licence for, or work in.
Identified gang members have already been banned from running, owning, operating or working in tattoo parlours.
Civil libertarians have labelled the plan “objectionable in the extreme” and said there was “almost nothing” left for former members, who often don't have trades or qualifications, in terms of legitimate jobs.
“This is why this legislation is so obscenely extreme,” Queensland Council for Civil Liberties Terry O'Gorman said.
“They are being prohibited as a group, simply because they were once part of the 26 proscribed motorcycle groups, from being able to obtain employment, when the stated aim from the premier was to make them get honest jobs.
“This really shows the real intention and face of the government on this legislation. They are just wanting to severely victimise anyone in these past groups individually as much as they can.”
Mr Newman said it was a “fair point” the government was narrowing the list of honest jobs, but he said it was being done in the best interests of the public.
“The industries which have been identified are ones that the Queensland police and the CMC have indicated are the subjects of money laundering by bikie gangs,” he said.
“But more importantly for members of the Queensland public, do you want a locksmith working at your place or your business that is owned by a criminal bikie gang? Do you want your children going to a nightclub where the staff on the door are employed by a criminal gang? If you are a motorist involved in a traffic accident or your car is towed ... do you want your car in the hands of a criminal gang? I think these are real issues for Queensland that we will address.”
The law changes come as Mr Newman admitted he could not rule out that bikie members had never been contracted for government work, in an answer to a question on notice asked by the opposition.
"... it is possible that government agencies have unwittingly dealt with businesses that are owned, partly owned or associated with members of criminal organisations, including criminal motorcycle gangs".

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/antibikie-laws-make-it-tough-to-get-an-honest-job-20131118-2xrd8.html#ixzz2l3py7CRi