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Unbelievable...Queensland getting worse!

Jail threat as new law ups bikie colours ban in public

BIKIES would face jail time for wearing their colours in any public space in Queensland under Labor’s proposed new laws to tackle gangs.

The State Government this week will spruik its anti-bikie measures, with the hope the extended ban on colours and the retention of mandatory sentencing elements will allay fears that Labor will embolden criminal motorcycle gang members through a softened stance or watered-down laws.

The new laws will also ensure police can shut down addresses used for fraud rackets, in addition to keeping clubhouses closed.

The Government is also expected to propose anti-consorting laws that closely mirror those introduced in NSW but our version could mean other offenders such as pedophiles and boiler room fraudsters won’t be able to hang out.

The laws will tomorrow go before Cabinet for a second time, after resolutions could not be reached on some implementation issues last week, such as the transition period and issues about limits on police powers.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she wanted to see more convictions and send a clear message to gang members that her Government would not give them any room to breathe.

The new laws will also ensure police can shut down addresses used for fraud rackets, in addition to keeping clubhouses closed.

The state says the legislative package it will ­introduce in the next fortnight “will also retain additional mandatory penalties as an inducement for offenders to co-operate with police”. Earlier this year, the ­Government announced it would investigate the option of expanding the ban on ­colours beyond licensed premises.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she wanted to see more convictions and send a clear message to gang members that her Government would not give them any room to breathe.

“The days of brazen, menacing rides through our streets and cities in daunting gang colours are over,” she said.

“Under Campbell Newman’s laws, gang colours were still permitted on our streets. Under my laws, they won’t be. The gangs can expect no let-up from police and prosecutors. I want more convictions not less, something we haven’t seen under the LNP laws.” This year, Crime and Corruption Commission chairman Alan MacSporran said the watchdog still believed bikie gangs were continuing to recruit on the Gold Coast and warned the CCC would be the first to raise concerns if the Government’s new laws started showing signs of being less effective.

Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath said they wanted to stamp out the “fear and intimidation” that accompanied bikie colours and the laws would not only allow police to confiscate colours but also ensure the offence carried “escalating penalties, including imprisonment”.

“That intimidation goes directly to the behaviour of OMCGs that is rightfully a concern to the Queensland public and Queensland police,” Ms D’Ath said.

Police Minister Bill Byrne said the development of the laws involved proper consultation. “Our crackdown on serious organised crime will be all-encompassing,” he said.

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