We must send a message to outlaw bikies
Without legislation, Tasmania risks being a safe haven,
THIS
week in Tasmania’s Parliament, we will be discussing extremely important legislation to crack down on dangerous outlaw motorcycle gangs.
The law will prohibit the display of insignia (also known as gang colours) of outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCGs).
It must be made very clear this legislation does not affect the tens of thousands of lawabiding motorcyclists in Tasmania. It is designed to target serious and organised crime through criminal gangs, including the Rebels, Bandidos, Outlaws, Black Uhlans and Devil’s Henchmen.
The majority of motorcyclists are law abiding and not members of these criminal gangs, and are fully entitled to keep wearing their club colours and insignia.
Outlaw motorcycle gangs use their colours to threaten, intimidate and incite fear. They are not law abiding groups. They are serious organised criminal groups involved in drug importation and distribution, murder, rape, extortion, debt collecting and firearms offences.
A sobering example of the risk is police intelligence that indicates senior leadership of one of the five organised gangs intends to relocate operations from interstate to North-West Tasmania — a region that has already felt the negative impact of these gangs.
The danger posed by drugs like methamphetamine, also known as ice or speed, is one of the biggest threats to public safety, and it is known that organised criminal groups, such as outlaw motorcycle gangs, are heavily involved in the importation and distribution of dangerous drugs into Tasmania. It is known these gangs readily resort to violence or intimidation to protect their way of life.
There have been many arrests, convictions and jail sentences for individuals involved with OMCGs. Police intelligence highlights a continuing and disturbing pattern of organised crime, which places our community at unacceptable risk.
Tasmania is the only state that has not acted on OMCGs, so it is vital we avoid being seen as a weak link for organised crime. Police have been very clear that without legislation, Tasmania is at risk of becoming a safe haven for them. All other states, including Labor states, have strong laws to protect the community from OMCGs, and there’s a danger that if Tasmania doesn’t do the same thing, they will move their activities here.
Tasmanian Labor needs to show the community that it is not out of touch with Tasmanians and indeed the Labor Party in other states, and vote for this Bill.
It is important to remember this legislation has been carefully designed on advice from Tasmania Police and the Police Association of Tasmania, and we call on politicians from all sides to support it.
These gangs are well organised in their opposition to the Government’s legislation and they’re working very hard to stop it, which shows they are worried about the Government threatening their well-oiled business model.
Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs are a dangerous element and the community should not fall for the positive marketing some OMCGs employ to garner public support.
The Tasmanian Government has a duty to ensure community safety is paramount.
We urge all members to heed the advice of Tasmania Police and the National AntiGang Squad from Australian Federal Police, and vote for this legislation.
There’s no room for a softon-crime approach when it comes to Tasmanians’ safety, and it is vital this law passes to give police the tools they need to deal with organised crime and send a strong message to OMCGs that they are not welcome here.