'Community will pay the price' for no anti-consorting laws: AFPA
The ACT has fallen behind other jurisdictions on laws targeting bikies and "the community will pay the price", the peak body representing police says.
Australian Federal Police Association president Angela Smith said Canberrans did not want the gangs congregating in the capital.
Australian Federal Police Association president Angela Smith wants a briefing on the changes. Photo: Rohan Thomson
The ACT has hosted a number of outlaw motorcycle club national runs since interstate anti-consorting laws prevented bikies from meeting in those jurisdictions.
However, the ACT Government ruled out the laws and said gangs continued to be a problem in jurisdictions where anti-consorting regimes are in force.
Ms Smith said the ACT needs laws to prevent the gangs from congregating in the capital.
"NSW is getting tougher on outlaw bikie gangs by giving police additional police to target and disrupt their violent activities," she said.
"It's a stark contrast to the weak bikie laws we have here in the ACT, where gangs are free to roam and incite violence in our community."
Ms Smith said footage of bikies shooting at a rival in his southside home had been a frightening reminder "that it's only a matter of time before an innocent member of our community is hurt or killed by this turf war".
"And while the government stubbornly refuses to enact these laws it is putting the lives of Canberrans in incredible danger,” Ms Smith said.
"This won't be the last shooting here in Canberra unless anti-consorting laws are introduced."
However, the ACT Government is unmoved, restating its plans not to introduce anti-consorting laws.
A government spokeswoman pointed to a NSW Ombudsman’s report that found that the laws disproportionately affected vulnerable groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and there had been no evidence to establish a measurable crime prevention benefit.
The spokeswoman spruiked the success of recent laws to target criminal gangs, including strengthened crime scene laws, criminal asset confiscation, anti-fortification laws, and increased funding for bikie busting Taskforce Nemesis.
"The ACT Government is committed to introducing laws, and investing resources in methods, that are proven to combat crime and deprive gangs of the financial incentives that motivate their illegal activities," the spokeswoman said.
"We will continue to work to keep Canberrans safe, and we will do it in ways that are both effective and compliant with our human rights."