Today in parliament, we will debate and vote on the next stage of our outlaw bikie gang legislation to crack down on serious organised crime in Tasmania and keep the community safe.
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The legislation we are putting forward would replace the current offence of consorting contained in the Police Offences Act 1935, with a more contemporary offence that aligns with legislation in other jurisdictions.
Updated consorting laws exist in every Australian state.
Originally developed as part of anti-vagrancy legislation, these laws have been updated in the other jurisdictions to focus on dealing with organised crime – instead of vagrants and petty thieves.
This Bill repeals the 1935 offence and creates a new consorting offence to prevent serious criminal activity by deterring convicted offenders from establishing, maintaining and expanding criminal networks.
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It includes clear definitions, a preliminary warning system and a court review mechanism.
The new offence prohibits two people who are both convicted of serious crimes from habitually consorting with each other, for up to five years after being served with a written warning from police.
The Hodgman Liberal Government has a tough on crime approach and we are committed to keeping our state safe and making Tasmanians’ lives better.
That’s why we are delivering on our commitment to ensure Tasmanian police officers have the tools they need to combat organised crime and help keep us all safer.
This Bill is a further addition to the suite of legislation implemented by this government to achieve that aim.
Alongside the Removal of Fortifications Act 2017, the Police Offences Amendment (Prohibited Insignia) Act 2018, the Terrorism Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2015 and the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2016, this Bill will give Tasmania Police another essential tool to break up existing criminal gangs and hinder the expansion of national and international organised crime into Tasmania.
It’s also known these gangs readily resort to violence or intimidation to protect their way of life.
The danger posed by serious drugs like methamphetamine (also known as ice or speed), is one of the biggest threats to public safety, and it is known that organised criminal groups, such as outlaw motorcycle gangs, are heavily involved in the importation and distribution of dangerous drugs into Tasmania.
It’s also known these gangs readily resort to violence or intimidation to protect their way of life.
We are sending a clear message that outlaw motorcycle gangs are not welcome in this state.
There have been many arrests, convictions and jail sentences for individuals involved with many arrests, convictions and jail sentences for individuals involved with OMCGs.
Police intelligence highlights a continuing and disturbing pattern of organised crime, which places our community at unacceptable risk.
The fact that these groups are organised, hierarchal and well-funded makes them difficult to stop via traditional law enforcement methods, such as with conspiracy offences, especially when targeting the heads of these organisations.
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission notes criminal syndicates in Australia are “diverse and flexible, with high threat organised crime groups sharing a range of common characteristics, in particular transnational connections, activities spread over several markets, and the intermingling of legitimate and criminal enterprises”.
Modern consorting legislation is an important crime-fighting tool to break down the networks and fabric of organised criminal syndicates and criminal gangs.
Tasmania is the only state in Australia that had not acted on OMCGs, so it is vital we avoid being seen as a weak link for organised crime.
Tasmania Police and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission have been very clear to MPs that without specific legislation to target these criminal groups, Tasmania is at risk of becoming a safe haven for them.
Every other state has implemented laws to protect the community against outlaw motorcycle gangs, and there’s a clear danger that if Tasmania doesn’t keep up, these OMCGs will move their activities here.
We call on Labor and the Greens to stand with us and fight against serious and organised crime and support this Bill.
It is high time Labor lost its soft on crime approach and listened to the advice of Tasmania Police and the Police Association of Tasmania.
- Michael Ferguson is Tasmania’s Police Minister and Bass Liberal MHA
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