OFF THE WIRE
The man who spearheaded the government's 'war on bikies' has admitted he
doesn't “particularly like” the laws which have polarised Queensland.
But Campbell Newman said he has no intention of backing down.
Mr
Newman, speaking on Fairfax Radio 4BC on Monday, said while he knew it
would “surprise” some people, he wasn't a fan of his government's
anti-association and related legislation and didn't “like having to do
this”.
“If people are sceptical about that statement, I'm the guy
in 2012 when asked 'should Queensland follow the lead of NSW and ban
bikies wearing colours', I said 'no'.”
Mr Newman said the
shooting of an innocent bystander at a Gold Coast shopping centre in
early 2012, the Broadbeach brawl and events in Sydney changed his mind.
He urged people not to be taken in by the “sophisticated PR campaign” which he said was being presented by “the other side”.
“They
have actually engaged a public affairs company, a spin company, to
actually bring forward stories like we've been seeing,” Mr Newman said.
“I
mean the branding of these people of the Yandina 5 up on the Sunshine
Coast...I can't talk about it really because it's before the courts, but
I'll say this – the police will be alleging that these individuals have
been involved in serious criminal activity...and the court will make a
determination. If they're innocent, they'll be free. That's the way the
system works.
“But it's interesting that suddenly [they're] the Yandina 5, like they're human rights victims.”
Mr
Newman said criminal gangs had “infiltrated the building trade, the
construction trade, the tattoo parlours, tow truck operators and
locksmiths” which is why his government's laws extended into licencing,
“so that you don't have a criminal gang member coming into your home to
fit locks to your house”.
The laws, if they survive upcoming High Court challenges, will be reviewed in 2016.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/newman-says-he-doesnt-like-his-governments-bikie-laws-20140113-30qsc.html#ixzz2qL4eWa7p
