Shane Bowden murder: Bikies ‘back on Gold Coast’
Political leaders are calling for tougher anti-bikie laws in the wake of the Shane Bowden shooting, which the LNP says shows bikies are back on the Gold Coast.
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THE fatal shooting of a notorious bikie gang boss at Pimpama shows that the bikies are back on the Gold Coast, warns the LNP.
LNP Leader Deb Frecklington today assured Coast residents that she would reintroduce the LNP’s tougher bikie laws and launch a new crackdown on gun crime.
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The slaying of notorious bikie Shane Bowden, shot down in an execution-style killing outside his Pimpama home overnight, has stunned northern Coast residents.
The Bulletin in a report in mid-2018 warned statistics revealed bikies were establishing a stronghold on the Gold Coast again. Of 67 bikies currently charged and awaiting trial, 57 had been released back into the community on bail.
Coomera MP Michael Crandon told the Bulletin: “It’s (this slaying) just down the road from where the new police station will be. I had no idea this bloke was living up here. Not far from that location, there was a police raid on a suburban home just a few weeks ago.”
Mr Crandon said a survey he conducted of more than 1000 residents showed crime was second to traffic congestion on the M1 as the major concern for the community.
He said the feedback from residents had led him and Theodore MP Mark Boothman to push for 80 extra police to be assigned to the Coomera and new Pimpama police stations.
“To be honest, this is just not on their (Labor’s) radar. They are offering 150 police across police stations in the south-east region, that’s 23 stations over five years,” Mr Crandon said.
“We’ve been behind the eight ball for far too long. We need 35 to 40 police just to catch up with the population growth.”
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has called for bikie laws to be revisited and tightened in the wake of the Shane Bowden slaying.
Cr Tate, who was elected on the same day as the 2012 Robina shooting, praised former premier Campbell Newman’s tough laws and said harsher measures needed to be considered.
He said the Gold Coast “cannot go back to the bad old days”.
Bonney MP Sam O’Connor said crime continued to be major issue in his electorate with several cars vandalised at Parkwood on the weekend.
“It was right in front of CCTV. It seems to have got worse this year in Arundel and Parkwood,” Mr O’Connor said.
“Crime hasn’t gone away. People want action on it. There’s not enough police. When they do catch the crooks, the law doesn’t back them up.”
LNP leader Deb Frecklington said serious crime has surged since Annastacia Palaszczuk became Premier.
“Labor is failing to protect Queenslanders and are allowing organised and armed criminals to thrive. Labor’s soft laws have rolled out the red carpet to criminal bikie gangs,” Ms Frecklington said.
“This cold-blooded killing is another reminder that the bikies have come back under Labor.
“Sadly, Queensland currently has some of the weakest gun crime laws in Australia under the Palaszczuk Labor Government.
“Where there should be tough penalties and tight protections, there are weak punishments and glaring holes in Queensland laws.
“The surge in organised criminal gangs and bikie shootings warrant tougher measures to end gun violence in Queensland.
“Labor has failed to protect the community, but an LNP Government will take swift action to crack down on armed crime and bikie gangs.”
Opposition police spokesperson Dan Purdie, a former QPS officer, said the latest bikie violence had sent a shockwave through the Coast.
“The bikies are operating without fear in Queensland,” Mr Purdie said.
“Only the LNP will stamp out bikie violence and crack down on the use of guns by criminals.”
The LNP introduced new laws into Parliament last year to deliver a new offence to cover drive by shootings, increase penalties for gun crime, and disrupt the manufacture of 3D-printed firearms — but Labor blocked the legislation.
The proposals will become law in Queensland if the LNP wins the October 31 state election.
Originally published as Shane Bowden murder: Bikies ‘back on Gold Coast’