GC REP AT RISK
Coast Inc. puts heat on Labor in wake of bikie, drugs spree
THE Gold Coast’s peak business body is pleading for more police, warning the city’s reputation as a tourism mecca is at risk from bikie gangs and drug raids.
But the office for police minister Mark Ryan disagrees there is a threat to the Gold Coast tourism image, saying increased media attention is due to police targeting “drug pushers and criminal gangs”.
Yesterday the Central Chamber of Commerce lashed out at the state government, calling for more police in the city after a spate of bikie-related shootings and drug busts.
Destination Gold Coast top brass are also meeting police later this week, the Bulletin can reveal.
Chamber president Martin Hall (above) said tourists were no longer looking at the Gold Coast as a destination due to recent “gang feuds and drug busts”.
“The perception is the city is associated with crime and we still live in the shadow of that (2013 bikie brawl in Broadbeach),” he said.
“What we’re hearing from our businesses consistently is we need more resources.”
“A few extra police is the answer. State Government needs to take a tougher stance on crime and commit resources to stop it damaging the Gold Coast and state’s reputation.”
Destination Gold Coast chair Paul Donovan said crime had been on his radar, prompting him and CEO Annaliese Battista to meet police later this week: “We never want to go back to the way we were. I understand police are doing everything in their power. I have every confidence they’ll do their job and get on top of it.”
It comes after growing tensions between Rebels and Bandidos bikies. Gokhan Turkyilmaz was shot eight times at his Upper Coomera home last month. Brother Emrah was arrested for alleged involvement in a prior Logan shooting.
A spokesperson for Minister Ryan said: “Tourism isn’t under threat and police continue to target drug pushers and criminal gangs to make the Gold Coast safer. Yes, that hard work and dedication deserves media attention it gets.”
Figures show to September, overnight tourism spend was more than $3b, up 8.4 per cent.
The spokesperson did not address calls to increase police but highlighted police charged 31 with 101 offences targeting ice supply and worked with NSW and Australian Federal Police on a cross-border operation to disrupt outlaw motorcycle gangs
Surfers Paradise MP John Paul Langbroek: “Police have told me they are flat out trying to keep up with their own jobs, they don’t have much time to do intelligence so they can help prevent (these incidents).”