Tassie bikers hit back at laws

A BODY which represents almost 55,000 of Tasmania’s licensed motorcyclists has launched a media campaign to convince the Legislative Council to block the Government’s controversial anti-bikie legislation.

The Tasmanian Motorcycle Council is running advertisements in the state’s newspapers to object to the proposed laws which would make it illegal to wear in public the colours of clubs identified by the Police Minister as criminal organisations.

The Government last month tabled that Bill and expects to introduce anti-consorting laws by the end of the year.

Police Minister Michael Ferguson has warned Tasmania is seen as a “soft target” for organised criminals as other states had already implemented similar legislation.

Yesterday, Mr Ferguson said the legislation had been developed after a detailed period of public consultation and, importantly, did not affect lawabiding, social riding clubs.

“This campaign is merely a smokescreen designed to confuse outlaw bikies with mainstream bikies, who won’t be affected. The fact is, social riding clubs and law-abiding motorcycle groups make up the vast majority of riders and will also benefit from a safe Tasmania,” Mr Ferguson said.

In its advert, the TMC says the laws “violate the fundamental freedoms afforded to Tasmanians in a democratic society and lack public support”.

“It is not the place of government to dictate what people wear or who they associate with,” the TMC says.

The group says Mr Ferguson did not meet with them before the legalisation was tabled.

“TMC sits on a number of government committees and advisory bodies yet the minister will not engage with TMC on laws which directly affect the rights of motorcyclists.

“Of 103 submissions made to the public consultation, 98 opposed the laws.

“Further, a public poll conducted via the TMC’s Facebook page found 96.7 per cent of 8683 responders did not find the presence of motorcyclists with ‘back patches’ threatening and opposed a ban on ‘logos, insignia and emblems’.”

The TMC says police have misled the public by implying all members of clubs with back patches are criminals, yet many social clubs also have back patches.

It says the TMC does not condone criminal behaviour but all club members should not have their reputations tarnished because of the actions of a few.