Reprinted here from The Australian newspaper today (17/10/13) an article by Tim Priest. I post it here without comment... The more interesting bits (IMHO) I've highlighted in bold text.
"YET NEW LAWS WONT AFFECT THE HONEST: ONLY SUSPECTED CRIMINALS"
"RECENTLY, the infamous Mongols MC entered Germany almost unheralded. Within months they had enlisted a Middle Eastern crime family who controlled drugs and prostitution in a large Germany city.
The nearby Hells Angels MC chapter immediately declared war and the violence between the two gangs escalated to a point where German police feared the confrontation would spread. Sound familiar? The recent brawl between Bandidos and Finks (soon to be Mongols members) in an upmarket eatery on Queensland’s Gold Coast occurred in front of horrified onlookers including families. The police reacted quickly and several bikies were arrested.
But the Gold Coast Police later had to defend their police station from angry bikies demanding the release of their comrades. A day later, senior bikie gang members were quoted declaring, ‘‘We run the show, they just live here.’’
That may be bikies flexing their muscles for reporters, but it’s completely out of character with the gangs I dealt with decades ago. Their view was ‘‘any publicity is bad publicity’’; they often disciplined members who brought attention to their clubs and flew under the radar.
A later comment worried me: ‘‘If they (the Queensland government) throw $20 million at it, we’ll throw $100 million . . . we’re in every country of the world.’’ And they are.
The global organised crime market of which outlaw motorcycle gangs are a huge part is bigger than most countries’ GDP and the amount of money being thrown at local traditional bikie gangs to ‘‘patch over’’ or transfer their allegiances to US-based gangs such as the Hells Angels and the Mongols is deeply disturbing.
Just how these vast sums of money arrive here undetected is also a source of concern.
The wider problem for Australia is how to deal with a crime menace that has confounded other police forces around the world.
Take Denmark. It introduced tough anti-bikie laws, but they were soon repealed on constitutional grounds by Denmark’s highest court, a decision that left Danish police gutted.
The US has had similar difficulties in applying the once very successful Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act to outlaw motorcycle gangs. Why? Because the bikies employ large US law firms to fight every piece of legislation and have been successful in limiting the impact police have on their activities.
We have seen almost identical efforts to legislate against outlaw motorcycle gangs by the South Australian and NSW governments also struck down in the High Court.
The Queensland government hopes its world-first legislation will succeed where other jurisdictions failed. But it will almost certainly be challenged by lawyers acting for outlaw gangs.
The problem as I see it is the composition of Australia’s judiciary, many of whom have been appointed by various Labor governments and appear to exercise an unreasonable concern with individual civil rights rather than society as a whole.
The proposed laws are about combating the menace of outlaw motorcycle gangs and their associates and will not impinge on weekend Harley-Davidson riding enthusiasts.
The police cannot simply pull motorbike riders over — they must have reasonable cause to suspect the riders are engaged in a criminal activity.
But already those with vested interests have begun a campaign to suggest these laws herald the start of a police state.
Perhaps we need to treat certain groups of outlaw motorcycle gangs as domestic terrorists and treat them in the same manner as we treat political or religious terrorists in this country.
Given the outstanding performance of ASIO and the various state counter-terrorism units in dealing with home-grown violent jihadists, maybe we need to bring the same methodology and legislation to fight this new domestic terror threat — the outlaw motorcycle gangs — before the problem is irreversible."
How long before 'bikie colours' definition is expanded to include the Eureka Flag or Trade Union emblems?
Anyone who thinks these laws wont effect their community in the future is a retard.
I was sceptical at first being an article in the Australian, but I thought I would be fair and read it through but I never got there they showed their true colours as soon as they placed the blame on the labour party, this is just another example of ultra right wing journalism, some of the content may have been close to factual but the majority was just scare mongering by a liberal national party supporter who works for a right wing rag. .
I am a bit bewildered by the naievity of this thread - perhaps I am reading it wrong.
Harleys have been associated with "criminals" since Hollister in the '40's (if not before). This is nothing new and whilst the MoCo will never admit it, the only reason they are still around is because of the staunch and hardcore riders of the '70's who saw them through the darkest of days - a lot of whom would have "associated" with clubs. The "recent" advent of "Nike Bikies" has removed the outlaws from Harleys more than anything. It seems these days that actually riding a bike has less to do with being a clubbie than in the past. So to infer that the focus on Harleys due to association with Clubs is a recent development is nothing short of ludicrous.
I am also no expert in the legalities of the QLD legislation however reading up on it, it appears it wouldn't be hard to inadvertantly associate yourself with a "declared" criminal organisation - poker runs, protest rides etc. And the penalties are MANDATORY and significant. Point the finger and blame the clubbies all you like but don't think for a moment that the lack of a patch on your back will exonerate you from this bullshit. The right to remain silent, the right to know what you are charged with and the presumption of innocence are long gone for some members of the community (not all). How confident are you that you will not be caught up in this ?
Regardless of your position on clubs, we should all protest these laws vigorously and loudly before it is too late - that is if it isn't already.
Usual disclaimer - no affiliation or association with any club ( and half a dozen Coopers under the belt )
Cheers
Philthy
Hi boys.
some good comments on this very fucked up and really unessasary issue brought about by some ugly public scene...as mentioned above people were reprimanded for bad public display in times gone bye but it seems the times are a changeing.. in most of this shit I have seen on the news I did not really see any real bike looking people?? imo.
but being a loner all my life(no club affiliation) I'm just going to keep on keeping on and liveing and rideing with whom I want to. which at the moment is a group of 4 but mostly on my own. when I was a kid the sound of a Triumph stired something in me...I love the sound and looks of my Harley,,,thats why I have one.the look and lines of the machine,.and I intend to keep rideing and enjoying it..I personally think that if you have nothing to hide except louder than standard pipes just keep on keeping on.
cheers Jimmy.
