LNP fails to support Bligh Government's tough anti-bikie laws

Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations
The Honourable Cameron Dick
27/11/2009
LNP fails to support Bligh Government's tough anti-bikie laws
 
The Bligh Government has tonight passed tough new laws that will disrupt the criminal activities of outlaw motorcycle gangs, despite the failure of the Liberal National Party to support the legislation.

Attorney-General Cameron Dick said the Liberal National Party had gone soft on criminal organisations after meeting with representatives of motorcycle gangs last week.

"Liberal National Party members from the Wide Bay-Burnett region have failed their constituents by opposing the Bligh Government's new laws, which seek to disrupt and dismantle organised crime," Mr Dick said.

"The members for Burnett, Bundaberg and Callide voted against this Bill, which targets organisations involved in criminal activities such as extortion, and drug manufacture and distribution.

"Their opposition to our laws clearly shows that they have failed to put the interests of Queenslanders first.

"The LNP says they are tough on crime but when given t he chance to back up their rhetoric by supporting our laws, they walk away.

"They are policy chameleons - they take on the views of the person they last spoke to."

Mr Dick said the Member for Burnett's opposition to the laws was even more surprising, given that he had introduced a Bill in 2007 that would have gone even further than the government's legislation.

"Two years ago, the Member for Burnett told Parliament that it was time to tell thugs, murderers, rapists and drug dealers that they were not welcome in Queensland.

"Why has his position changed so dramatically?"

Mr Dick said the Liberal National Party was out of step with its interstate counterparts when it came to tackling organised crime.

"Three other jurisdictions have introduced legislation targeting the activities of criminal organisations," he said.

"In every other jurisdiction that has introduced this type of law, the Liberals and Nationals voted in suppo rt of it.

"Every other Coalition member in Australia has supported their State and Territory Governments in the crackdown on organised criminal organisations - except in Queensland.

"They have let down their communities by opposing these laws."