Queensland lawyers to ride with bikie gang consultation

THE peak body representing lawyers in Queensland has asked not to be left out of consultations over the creation of new laws targeting bikie gangs.

Kate Gibbs • 03 April 2009 • SME Law

THE peak body representing lawyers in Queensland has asked not to be left out of consultations over the creation of new laws targeting bikie gangs.

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In a letter leaked to The New Lawyer, Queensland Law Society president Ian Berry wrote to Queensland Attorney-General Cameron Dick MP, requesting consultation input on the "legislative options" being put to the Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh MP.

"While we reserve our position pending a dispassionate consideration of any draft proposals ... I am bound to say that out initial reaction to the general concept is not one of great enthusiasm," Berry said in his letter.

The Premier has previously stated the laws "would need to strike a balance between protecting the public from organised crime and upholding the civil liberties of citizens". She said the laws would be similar to anti-terror laws and would allow certain groups proven to be engaged in criminal activity to be declared prescribed organisations.

"It would then be illegal to be a member of the group or associate with those groups," Bligh said.

Berry said the Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson has also had a "lukewarm response" to the government's announcement, quoting him in an article in yesterday's The Courier Mail that "to date the laws we have in Queensland have been adequate but we always want to do better".

Promising an "open mind", Berry said the Queensland Law Society would provide further analysis and opinion given adequate response time.

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