Well known English Doco producer Ross Kemp spent last November in Australia researching the 'Bikie Law' phenomenon.

He travelled up the East Coast mixing with a number of Australian 1% clubs and interviewing Cops and Politicians

to try and gain a balanced view.  The last 3 minutes from 42.20 on kinda confirm what many have been saying all along.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ojvo0_OMJw&feature=youtu.be

 

Same old, same old
still I like the Ross Kemp series, he appears honest in his views.

I think the clubs are being shafted, but they themselves need to come up with a new catch cry and get away from "we are a group of guys that just love to ride motorbikes"

if that was the case, each club would not hate all the other clubs to the passion they do.

Yea you have a point Soapbox. The trouble with these media pieces is that the clubs get no say in the final editing. Often better anecdotes and descriptions of the lifestyle get left on the cutting room floor 'because' they wander too far from the 'love to ride motorbikes' concept that always seems to survive. The cops and pollies well worn line ..'only existing for criminal purpose'... is probably another over-used description that becomes tiresome when ex cops like Terry Goldsworthy continually denounce 'that' description....but it always makes it into the final draft too.
As for hating all the other clubs thing...well, whats missing out of Ross's footage is the Protest ride on Canberra last November where half a dozen different clubs mixed and rode together during the protest days....sporadic tiffs certainly happen, but as Ross noted at the time, but didnt make the final cut, there is often far more camaraderie than mainstream people realise.

I just can't believe you can get an 8000 pound fine for consorting...otherwise a good watch

GG-74
I agree with your points 100%. in content
with coming as the devils advocate, many amnesties were done in war between the foes, lets stop shooting from dawn till dusk to bury our dead, its christmas day, it's "fill in reason here"
the clubs joined to fight the new laws as one, show a united front, see we do get along, but we are not that silly, nor are the wider public, because there is still inter club biff.
I feel in a unique position where I have relatives in two clubs, at family get together, we all are family, there is light banter between them but nothing talked about (club stuff) and at the end of the day they go back to their respective clubs with the distaste for the other. not at individuals but club.
the clubs here generally get along, disputes can be sorted by a phone call, I believe with a healthy respect, not saying I have that much to do with the politics but I still have ears.

the show, made for the British audience and I think the trimmings on the floor was for time rather than censorship, but like you said, good info is often left out.

my take on the woman in charge (cant remember her name) was just plain arrogant, probably brainwashed, and was in no way bending, it was a straight quote from her scripts. I think even to the public, she would be seen to ridged.

the guys interviewed we also passionate about their lifestyle choice, but I cant come to the tones in the voice when they are describing the hardship they are going through, I can come to emotion, but not the cryish (cant think of another word) tone.

I, if I had to vote, would have the VLAD repealed as I am also with the current (old) laws were sufficient for when a criminal (all) is just that, tarred with the same brush will have essendon and the NRL clubs doing time, see the outcry at the MCG Saturday when the red and black army is coming out after the game 40,000 arrests for consorting.

I thought the fine sounded a bit rich too....but here it is on one of the Legislation websites.

"The Crimes Amendment (Consorting and Organised Crime) Act 2012 (NSW) introduced a range of measures ostensibly aimed at organised criminal gangs, including new ‘consorting’ laws which commenced on 9 April 2013.

Under section 93X of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ‘habitually consorting with convicted offenders’ is an indictable offence with a maximum penalty of 3 years’ imprisonment or a $15 000 fine."

All good Soapbox, we both are in unique postions to know that the hype surrounding clubs is often not how its played out in reality. As you say phone calls sort most issues, sometimes they dont. The tribal nature of membership is ingrained and its unlikely to be replaced anytime soon, but the public displays of camaraderie for political purpose do in fact put opposites together for long enough for a respect to grow and those phone numbers to be exchanged, these things I too have seen myself.

But back to the original post,  Ross Kemp and his crew were gobbsmacked that these types of Laws actually even exist...hence the slant of his doco....and considering he's the son of an english copper who's travelled and seen a bit of bad shit, Governments included, it is a perspective worth noting.  

"Target what your've done, not who you are."
Hitler is an example of Queensland Control.
He targeted Jews.
To me. theres nothing like watching a large Group of 1%ers ride bye.
Adrenalin Rush.
This countries gone to the pot, Regulation is out of control towards some and yet the Slave Trade is still happening in Sydney, cause we don't want to be Racist, do we.

This countries gone to the pot, Regulation is out of control towards some and yet the Slave Trade is still happening in Sydney, cause we don't want to be Racist, do we.


tHATS A GOOD POINT ... Terrorism , is a lot more evil and deadly towards our way of live than bikies ,, Yet i don't see them raiding Mosques around Sydney and arresting the peanuts holding there Anti Australian sermons , and giving out warnings of 6 months jail for consorting with each other.

Its pretty obvious Ross took his lead on the theme of this doco from the Terry Goldsworthy interview. An expose` from the point of view of the 60% with no criminal convictions....its a perspective that gets lost in this war on ALL bikers. The sporadic events that get trotted out religously by political strategists and cops have been done to death by mainstream media, so more inquiring story tellers look at the collaterall side effects to the majority who cop the backlash for the actions of others. Nothing wrong with balance....its just a pity an overseas doco producer is the only one with the independance to provide it.

I've said it before and i'll say it again . They can stop this shit happenning to them , easy ,,, just sort there shit out ,, They used to be what they claim to be ,, Blokes with a love of bikes , who found comradship with each other , and liked to party hard , So basicly thats what they have to get back too ,

When they go storming restruants with , women and kids around , storming police stations , and shooting each other in public , well they just picked a fight with the biggest club in the world , the POLICE . Now its going to be very hard for them to gain any sympathy from Joe Public , has to wether or not there civil rights are being violated .

Joe public is mostly sat with there coke and popcorn , being entertained on the 6 0 clock news , watching the goodies bashing down doors , and arresting the baddies .

Unfortunately I believe this will never be turned around either and Victoria clearly have it good, for now!!!

Wait until they have a punch up in a public restaurant where baby chairs get pushed over, then it's all over....

I feel more sympathy for the innocent parties dragged into this, namely guys like tattoo artists.............mate had to pay $750 to be registered to tattoo..................where the f**k is that money going? It costs me $44 to register my Dog !!!!!!