OFF THE WIRE
SOLICITORS have accused Premier Campbell Newman of sullying an
entire profession by suggesting bikie lawyers are hired guns who belong
to a ``criminal gang machine''.
Civil libertarians and the legal profession have voiced concerns
about new state anti-association laws, which make it illegal for three
or more bikies to gather in public.Bikies who disobey the laws face up to three years in jail, prompting Hannay Lawyers this week to advise its Gold Coast clients to avoid turning up to court if other bikies are there.
But Mr Newman slammed that advice and accused those defence lawyers of being disingenuous.
``These people are hired guns. They take money from people who sell drugs to our teenagers and young people,'' he said.
``Yes, everybody's got a right to be defended under the law
but you've got to see it for what it is: they are part of the machine,
part of the criminal gang machine, and they will see, say and do
anything to defend their clients, and try and get them off and indeed
progress ... their dishonest case.''
Mr Newman described defence lawyers as people ``paid by criminal gangs'' when challenged on his assertion.
The Queensland Law Society, the state's peak body for solicitors, called on Mr Newman to reconsider his comments, with president Ian Brown describing them as deeply concerning.
``It is entirely inappropriate to suggest that, as a profession, solicitors are, for want of a better term, hired guns,'' he told AAP.
``Comments such as 'lawyers or solicitors are hired guns' and that 'solicitors will say and do anything to defend their clients', those kind of comments relate to the entirely of the legal profession - solicitors and barristers alike.''
Mr Brown said the premier's comments undermined the legal assumption that someone was innocent until proven guilty, adding that this implied solicitors were breaching their fundamental duty to the court.
FITZGERALD SAYS BIKIE LAWS ARE LIKE DIRTY HARRY
Mr Newman also hit out at 1980s anti-corruption commission head Tony Fitzgerald and his then senior counsel Gary Crooke for comparing the Queensland government's anti-bikie laws to Dirty Harry in an online opinion piece for the ABC.
``Mr Fitzgerald is a well respected individual, but I obviously don't agree with what he is saying and I don't think he is particularly being clear and analytical about what's really going on,'' the premier said.
``What's he on about? I think other people are getting a bit tired of the whole thing.''
Prominent criminal defence lawyer Michael Bosscher said Mr Newman's comments were ``political dribbling at its best''.
``A year 10 student undertaking legal studies at school would have a greater understanding of the various elements of the justice system than the Premier has expressed in these comments,'' he said.
``His comments are disgraceful, ignorant, indefensible and embarrassing
``Queensland's reputation has already been tarnished - nationally and internationally - by the premier's stance on these laws and a premier of a state making comments such as these will further damage that reputation and hold this state up to ridicule.
``Clearly he has no understanding whatsoever of the role of a criminal defence lawyer in the justice system, what the onus of proof means and the fact that every person who is charged with an offence is entitled to be properly defended and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.''
Mr Bosscher said Mr Newman should apologise to all Queensland lawyers.
``Every criminal lawyer would find these comments demeaning and derogatory, defamatory, childish, grossly ill-informed and political dribbling at its best,'' he said.
``The premier needs to issue an apology to every single criminal defence lawyer in Queensland for the outrageous and disgusting suggestion that we carry out our profession in order to assist crime being committed by any person.''
War on bikies 1:44
Unions are defending their decision to help bankroll a legal challenge to the anti-bikie laws.
The Queensland Law Society, the state's peak body for solicitors, called on Mr Newman to reconsider his comments, with president Ian Brown describing them as deeply concerning.
``It is entirely inappropriate to suggest that, as a profession, solicitors are, for want of a better term, hired guns,'' he told AAP.
``Comments such as 'lawyers or solicitors are hired guns' and that 'solicitors will say and do anything to defend their clients', those kind of comments relate to the entirely of the legal profession - solicitors and barristers alike.''
Mr Brown said the premier's comments undermined the legal assumption that someone was innocent until proven guilty, adding that this implied solicitors were breaching their fundamental duty to the court.
FITZGERALD SAYS BIKIE LAWS ARE LIKE DIRTY HARRY
Mr Newman also hit out at 1980s anti-corruption commission head Tony Fitzgerald and his then senior counsel Gary Crooke for comparing the Queensland government's anti-bikie laws to Dirty Harry in an online opinion piece for the ABC.
``Mr Fitzgerald is a well respected individual, but I obviously don't agree with what he is saying and I don't think he is particularly being clear and analytical about what's really going on,'' the premier said.
``What's he on about? I think other people are getting a bit tired of the whole thing.''
Prominent criminal defence lawyer Michael Bosscher said Mr Newman's comments were ``political dribbling at its best''.
``A year 10 student undertaking legal studies at school would have a greater understanding of the various elements of the justice system than the Premier has expressed in these comments,'' he said.
``His comments are disgraceful, ignorant, indefensible and embarrassing
``Queensland's reputation has already been tarnished - nationally and internationally - by the premier's stance on these laws and a premier of a state making comments such as these will further damage that reputation and hold this state up to ridicule.
``Clearly he has no understanding whatsoever of the role of a criminal defence lawyer in the justice system, what the onus of proof means and the fact that every person who is charged with an offence is entitled to be properly defended and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.''
Mr Bosscher said Mr Newman should apologise to all Queensland lawyers.
``Every criminal lawyer would find these comments demeaning and derogatory, defamatory, childish, grossly ill-informed and political dribbling at its best,'' he said.
``The premier needs to issue an apology to every single criminal defence lawyer in Queensland for the outrageous and disgusting suggestion that we carry out our profession in order to assist crime being committed by any person.''
War on bikies 1:44
Unions are defending their decision to help bankroll a legal challenge to the anti-bikie laws.
