Easyriders Australia SMC Ipswich Chapter - Topic: Government considers ban on bikie gangs

Topic: Government considers ban on bikie gangs

Hazza
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Government considers ban on bikie gangs
23/03/2009 9:04:00 AM. | Richard Maxton and Francis Keany

Legislation similar to anti-terrorism laws will be considered to combat bikie gang violence following a fatal brawl at Sydney Airport, NSW Police Minister Tony Kelly says.

He will meet with Premier Nathan Rees, Attorney-General John Hatzistergos and Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione on Monday to discuss ways to combat bikie gang violence.

A 28-year-old man was bashed to death in a brawl involving up to 20 men about 1.35pm (AEDT) on Sunday at terminal 3 of the domestic airport.

Four men have been charged over the incident while trying to flee the airport in a taxi, but several others remain at large.

Police are also investigating a spate of drive-by shootings throughout suburban Sydney, one of which on Sunday injured two men.

"This is absolutely intolerable, it's disgusting and enough's enough," Mr Kelly told ABC Radio.

"These people have got to understand that's not the sort of behaviour we tolerate in Australia and we'll be doing whatever we can to give police whatever powers they need to be able to stamp this out."

The South Australian government last year moved to implement laws against bikie gangs, but Mr Kelly said the effectiveness of those laws was yet to be determined and it was unknown if they could be used as a model for a revised NSW system.

He said NSW Police officers already had a strong framework to target bikie gangs but said those laws could be upgraded, with new powers.

"Powers of association, like the terrorism laws - they're not allowed to meet together, I think two or three together, (or) they can be arrested," Mr Kelly offered as a possible law change.

Police have questioned about 50 witnesses who were at the Qantas domestic departure area where Sunday's brawl erupted, with Mr Kelly describing as "unbelievable" the location of the fight.

A 25-year-old man from Auburn, a 22-year-old man from Casula, a 21-year-old man from Pemalwuy and a 22-year-old Ingleburn man have each been charged with one count of affray.

They've been refused bail and are due to face court on Monday.

Mr Kelly said NSW Police arrested the four men in a taxi "a suburb or two" from the airport.

http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/2009/03/23/Rees_calls_crisis_meeting_over_bikie_violence

09:14 PM on 03/22/2009

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