'Name names' challenge to Newman by senior Rebel

A SENIOR Sunshine Coast Rebels bikie has challenged the Newman Government to name local club members who have been involved in serious crimes.

Tony Jardine suggested it was time for the authorities to provide names to back up repeated claims of involvement in crime.

Mr Jardine spoke out after Taskforce Maxima head Detective Superintendent Mick Niland repeated claims that the Rebels were the "face of organised crime in this country".

Taskforce Maxima is tasked with cracking down on outlaw bikie gangs.

Det Supt Niland last week said the Rebels were behind drug networks peddling methamphetamines, ecstasy and cannabis and also involved in murder and extortion, as well as drug dealing and production on the Sunshine Coast through chapters at Noosa, the hinterland and Kunda Park.

"I challenge him to name the cases of murder, extortion, rape, (and) name the actual members - not those they portray as members - who have been charged with anything like that. I can guar

antee it's nil," Mr Jardine said in response.

"They're always saying things like that and I say, 'If you've got evidence, charge someone instead of just saying it all the time'.

"In the 25 years I've been in the Rebels' Sunshine Coast chapter, there's been no members sent to jail for any crime."

Attorney-General Jarrod Bliejie isn't backing down.

"We put these laws in place to prevent criminal mot

orcycle gangs from using their numbers to intimidate and stand over others," Mr Bleijie said.

"Splitting them up helps ensure incidents similar to what happened on the Gold Coast aren't repeated.

"We make no apologies for our tough stance.

"We have made these laws very tough for a reason: to protect the public and send a strong message to the criminal motorcycle gangs."

Police have noted a 700% increase in calls to Crime Stoppers since the statewide taskforce began its crackdown on October 17.