State’s crime watchdog chief warns bikies are planning a comeback, in secret submission State Government’s taskforce

UPDATE: Retired Justice Alan Wilson has handed over his report on Queensland’s bikie laws to Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath.

RETIRED Justice Alan Wilson has handed over his report on Queensland’s bikie laws to Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath.

Justice Wilson delivered the report to Ms D’Ath this afternoon.

It will not be released publicly until Monday, however, to allow Cabinet to consider the report and an interim response.

Earlier, The Courier-Mail reported the state’s crime watchdog chief has warned bikies are planning a comeback, in a secret submission to the Palaszczuk Government’s taskforce on outlaw motorcycle gang laws.

“Several OMCGs have sought to establish or re-­establish a presence on the Gold Coast after their influenced waned in the wake of the 2013 ‘crackdown’,” Crime and Corruption Commission chairman Alan MacSporran has told the Organised Crime Legislation Taskforce head, retired Justice Alan Wilson.

In the submission, obtained by The Courier-Mail under Right to Information, Mr MacSporran wrote that the most prominent groups “seeking to gain a foothold” were the Hells Angels, Nomads, Finks and Bandidos.

The letter containing CCC “intelligence information” was sent to Justice Wilson in December, but is yet to be made public, unlike more than 70 other submissions sent to Justice Wilson to inform the review.

The letter comprised four pages. Only two were partially released to The Courier-Mail.

Former Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie and Opposition Justice spokesman Ian Walker have this morning questioned why the letter has not been fully released publicly like more than 70 other submissions received by the taskforce ahead of the handover of its report to the Palaszczuk Government today.

“What’s the secrecy around it?” Mr Bleijie asked.

“I call on the Premier today to intervene and get these documents released. Get all the submissions, particularly from the CCC ... released publicly so Queenslanders can have a better understanding of what is going on.”

Mr MacSporran declined to comment on the letter ahead of the taskforce’s report being handed to Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath today.

But his letter states he would be content to have the information released publicly as part of the report.

Ms D’Ath has confirmed the report will be delivered to Cabinet on Monday before its release and the Government’s response.

Crime and Corruption Commision chairman Alan MacSporran. Picture: Jono Searle.

There is speculation Justice Wilson will recommend an overhaul of the bikie laws.

He could recommend Queensland adopt legislation like other states that have withstood a High Court challenge, including NSW’s anti-consorting laws that prevent criminals such as bikies convicted of an ­offence from ­associating with each other.

The Government is coming under pressure from the police and LNP Opposition not to tinker with the laws.

Superintendent Jim Keogh revealed his fears of a dangerous bikie resurgence should the laws be weakened.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Ms D’Ath both reiterated they had “zero ­tolerance” for bikie gangs yesterday in the wake of Supt Keogh’s revelations.

“I have always said zero tolerance of outlaw motorcycle gangs. My Government is very serious about tackling that issue but also tackling serious organised crime throughout this state.”

Ms Palaszczuk said Ms D’Ath would be bringing a submission to Cabinet on the Government’s options in relation to the taskforce report.

“We will release our interim response and the report will be made public after Cabinet,” she said.

The terms of reference had called for the taskforce to recommend “how best to repeal, or replace by substantial amendment, the 2013 legislation”.

The taskforce has been asked to provide details on potential amendments to the laws and whether they should be retrospective, and also to ­“determine if new legislation or amending legislation is ­required to effectively fight organised crime in Queensland”.

The taskforce will recommend a new serious organised crime offence to be inserted into the state’s Criminal Code.

Justice Wilson has also ­reviewed the former Bligh Government’s bikie laws, handing his report to Ms D’Ath in December.

That report is yet to be made public.

Ms D’Ath told State Parliament this year that she would release it after the taskforce’s other report was handed down.

Ms D’Ath has previously stated she is opposed to the mandatory sentencing aspects of the VLAD laws and associated anti-bikie legislation.

She told petitioners wanting no changes that the Government was intent on creating “workable laws”.

The Courier-Mail has been told that outlaw bikie numbers have dropped since the controversial laws were introduced by the former LNP government.