Anti-bikie laws supported by both sides of politics have made Queensland safer but have now fallen victim to political games

IF ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk was serious about having “zero tolerance to organised crime” she would show some leadership, listen to our leading crime-fighting agencies and keep the laws that are working.

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PICTURE this scene. You’re having dinner with your family at a local restaurant on a Friday night after a long week at work, enjoying each other’s company and a night out with the kids.

The next thing, there’s a commotion out the front and 50 patched criminal motorcycle gang members are pushing and shoving. A brawl breaks out, spilling into the restaurant.

Chairs are flying, people are rushing to get out of the way, and a turf war has begun.

Sound like a scene from a movie or somewhere in another country? Guess again – that was the scene in September 2013 on the Gold Coast.

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After police finally took control, the thugs were detained and gang members who weren’t arrested began a siege outside the local police station, demanding their 18 “brothers in arms” be set free.

The response was swift. Queenslanders called for action and they got it.

Laws were drafted by the LNP with the assistance of key legal minds and intelligence from our major crime-fighting agencies.

For the first time, police and the Crime and Misconduct Commission (now the Crime and Corruption Commission) were backed with the resources and laws needed to fight criminal motorcycle gangs and other forms of organised crime in Queensland head on.

The result has been remarkable – even better than many envisaged.

Crime rates have dramatically declined, criminal gangs have disbanded (and, in many cases, fled the state), and people feel safer.

Queenslanders called for action against bikie gangs and they got it.

The review handed to the Attorney-General last Thursday by retired Justice Alan Wilson was not a fair-dinkum review – it was a closed-shop inquiry with a predetermined outcome.

The terms of reference show the fix was on from day one, in that Mr Wilson was asked to advise the Labor Government on how best to “repeal and replace” the 2013 legislation.

No starting with a “clean sheet”, no assessment of the value of these laws, no public hearings, no testing of any evidence or testimony given in the public view. Just riding instructions to get rid of the laws.

For Labor, this is another case of repaying the long list of favours owed to keep control of the government benches – in this case, Nicklin MP and Speaker Peter Wellington.

The review retired Justice Alan Wilson handed to Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath last week was more a closed shop inquiry with a predetermined outcome.

Don’t forget that when the laws were introduced and passed in October 2013, Labor voted for them. In fact, every member of the last parliament, including the member for Nicklin, voted for them.

If Annastacia Palaszczuk was serious about having “zero tolerance to organised crime” she would show some leadership, listen to the views of our leading crime-fighting agencies – and, indeed, the public – and keep the laws that are working.

Queenslanders deserve a government that puts community safety and crime prevention ahead of politics; a government that protects the police so they can protect us.

Ian Walker MP is Shadow Attorney-General.