Queensland races to catch runaway riders
Queensland’s crackdown on motorcycle gangs has seen bounties offered, security enhanced and now the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) brought in to help.
Reports today say ACC officials will be set up in Queensland to employ their expanded powers and assist Gold Coast police in a sweep of motorcycle gangs, members' homes and clubhouses.
Federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan says: “The ACC has extraordinary powers - it also has access to Australia's national criminal database.”
“They will have officers embedded in the Queensland Police task force that has been set up to attack these criminal gangs.”
The Queensland Govenrment has promised 50 extra police for the Gold Coast to try to fight the problem, but that is not the end of the plan.
Twenty million dollars will be spent trying to further condemn the already outlawed groups, which tread a fine line between legitimate motoring enthusiasm and illicit organised crime.
The Queensland Government says it wants the toughest anti-biker laws in the world, but that may cause some backlash. As a result; security has been ramped-up at several State Government buildings around Brisbane and metropolitan areas. The gates of Parliament House were locked this morning.
Public servants have reportedly been told of the heightened security state, and warned to exercise caution when dealing with couriers and other visitors.
In an announcement overnight Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said rewards of up to $500,000 will be offered for information about illegal gangs. Police Minister Jack Dempsey said $1000 payments will be offered for information used for successful raids.
New legislation is being hastily prepared for the next sitting of the Queensland Parliament in two weeks, which will seek to bring into effect the pledge for a hard crackdown.
There have been reports already of previously indentified criminally-linked groups such as The Finks moving to push their members into international clubs. Police Minister Jack Dempsey says that will not work.
“Any criminal gangs, it will not matter what they change, what spots they change or the uniforms they change, if they are a criminal gang, a criminal gang has no place in Queensland and we'll certainly be coming after you like never before,” he said.
Queensland Premier Campbell Newman is reportedly planning to use unexplained wealth laws as a basis for prosecution – just like they did with Al Capone.