ONE VOICE: United Motorcycle Council spokesman Peter "Fuzzy'' Godfree said the ride was a public show of support against the laws. Source: PerthNow
FREEDOM RIDE: Bikies of different colours joined to protest WA's "anti-association'' laws. Source: PerthNow
PROTEST: Lawyer Jonathon Davies said Australians are losing "fundamental rigths and freedoms.'' Source: PerthNow
MORE than 300 bikies and supporters today mounted a protest on wheels in defiance of the State Government's proposed anti-association laws.
The 66km cross-city run
from Beeliar to Nowergup was organised by the United
Motorcycle Council WA as a show of solidarity against
the laws, which they say are an undemocratic crackdown
on their right to associate with each other.
The legislation would give police the power to ban
bikies from associating with each other and visiting
certain places.
Seven WA bikie gangs - the Coffin Cheaters, Rebels,
Gypsy Jokers, Club Deroes, Outlaws, God's Garbage and
the Vietnam Veterans - have banded together to form the
WA council in a bid to fight the proposed laws. The
Comancheros, Finks and Rock Machine gangs are not part
of the action.
Today, prominent lawyer Jonathon Davies, from the
Australian Lawyers Alliance, publicly joined the fight
with an address outside the Ocean View Tavern on
Wanneroo Road.
``Bikies will always be regarded as a marginalised
group…What I would say to the community is don’t look at
the messenger, look at the message,’’ Mr Davies said.
``We are losing the fundamental rights and freedoms that
our ancestors spilt blood to establish and maintain. We
are so apathetic that we are moving towards governments
by arbitrary decree.
``This year it will be motorcycle clubs. Next year it
will be your political party and the year after that
your church or synagogue.’’
UMC WA spokesman and Coffin Cheater Peter ``Fuzzy’’
Godfree said the protest ride was a public show of
opposition to the laws and the rally should send a
strong message to the Barnett Government.
The group claims the legislation ignores rules of
evidence for criminal cases, presents secret information
and throws out the time-honoured presumption of
innocence until proven guilty.
``We believe the anti-association laws won’t work, they
won’t curb crime at all. They are a waste of time…If
anything they are going to breed a new class of
criminal,’’ Mr Godfree said.
In November, the High Court declared as unconstitutional
South Australia's controversial bikie laws banning
members from associating, casting doubt on WA’s laws.
In the test case, lawyers for two South Australian
members of the Finks motorcycle club argued a section of
the legislation undermined the constitutional
independence of magistrates.
United Motorcycle Councils have been formed by bikie
gangs in New South Wales, South Australia and
Queensland. Seventeen gangs have rallied together to
form the Queensland council, there are 18 affiliate
clubs in NSW and five bikie gangs have formed the SA
chapter.
A spokeswoman for Attorney-General Christian Porter said
``introducing legislation to target organised crime
remained a top priority for the State Government’’. She
did not say when the proposed anti-association laws
would be presented to Parliament.
Mr Porter has previously claimed the laws were vital in
WA to stop criminal enterprise.
