Eighteen men were on Friday sentenced for their roles in the Broadbeach brawl, with the ringleaders given suspended jail terms deemed a slap on the wrist by local police and the Queensland Liberal National Party.

Police Commissioner Ian Stewart has told the ABC that police are reviewing the sentences, and will consider an appeal if they are found inadequate.

EARLIER: ‘RINGLEADER’ GETS SUSPENDED SENTENCE

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Mr Stewart has again defended the state’s contentious Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment (VLAD) laws, which were introduced by the Newman government in October 2013, one month after the Broadbeach brawl.

He said he stood by his previous assertions that the legislation, which has been slammed by critics as “draconian”, had “significant impact on criminals in our society”.

Mr Stewart said that since the introduction of the laws the level of criminal behaviour from bikie gangs on the Gold Coast had dramatically decreased.

He urged Police Minister Jo-Ann Miller to consider this as part of the government’s current inquiry into the effectiveness of the laws.

“I would show her the success that we’ve had in opposing organised crime in this state, particularly crime committed by members of outlaw motorcycle gangs, and we’ve had amazing success over the last few years,” he said.

“These are criminal enterprises. They’re not there to have Christmas toy runs.

“You don’t see that same degree of influence and assertion on the coast any more.” Retired Queensland Supreme Court judge Alan Wilson has been appointed to head a taskforce reviewing the laws, which will run in tandem with the government’s Commission of Inquiry.