Australasian Biker News
Democrat invites bikies to Parliament
By Colin James
February 09, 2008 01:00am
Article from: The Advertiser
SOUTH Australian Democrats MP Sandra Kanck has plunged herself into
another controversy by inviting bikies to a seminar at Parliament House.
Members of the Gypsy Jokers, Finks and Hells Angels were among guests at
a briefing yesterday on new laws being introduced by the State
Government to combat outlaw motorcycle clubs.
Under the laws, scheduled to be debated next week in the House of
Assembly, South Australians who have contact with bikies at least six
times a year will face a minimum of five years in jail.
The Serious and Organised Crime (Control) Bill 2007 also will enable the
Police Commissioner, Mal Hyde, to obtain orders from the
Attorney-General, Michael Atkinson, declaring bikie gangs illegal.
Anyone involved with the gangs, or who has any contact with them, can
then be served with orders restricting their movements based on police
intelligence, which must remain secret.
Yesterday's seminar was organised by Ms Kanck to highlight concerns the
legislation will unfairly target people who are not involved in criminal
acts.
This could include bikers who belong to groups such as the Longriders
Christian Motorcycle Club, who yesterday said their homes had been
raided by police since an anti-bikie phone-in two weeks ago.
Ms Kanck, who attracted criticism when she described ecstasy as a "safe
drug", defended the presence of the Finks, Gypsy Jokers and Hells Angels
members, saying people who were affected by legislation should be
consulted before it was debated.
Mr Atkinson said he was disappointed but not surprised by Ms Kanck's
actions. He argued no victim of bikie crime was invited and while the
proposed laws would tackle gangs head-on, they would not harm innocent
citizens just because they "rode a motorcycle with their mates".
Prominent criminal defence lawyer Craig Caldicott told the seminar the
new laws were an attempt "to use a sledgehammer to crack a walnut".
"They are basically an overkill," he said.
"It is the only piece of legislation in Australia aimed at a group of
people who wear leather jackets."