Anti-gang consort laws have ‘more safeguards’ than failed interstate legislation: minister

VICTORIA has adopted anti-consorting laws for teen criminals, despite similar legislation failing interstate, with Police Minister Lisa Neville pouring cold water on fears that the rules could be misused.

THE state government has promised “additional safeguards” to keep new anti-consorting laws for teen criminals from being misused.

Victoria Police will be able to slap teenage thugs as young as 14 who commit home invasions, armed robberies, carjackings, and other violent crimes with unlawful association notices.

Police Minister Lisa Neville said the new powers would help “disrupt” bikie gangs, criminal organisations and youth networks — and limit their recruiting of “cleanskins”.

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Police Minister Lisa Neville has backed the new laws and its safeguards. Picture: AAP Image/Alex Murray

She said the Victorian laws had more safeguards than similar legislation that had failed interstate.

“That will be particularly targeted at young people and at Aboriginal people to make sure some of our most vulnerable do have the proper oversight in the use of these laws,” Ms Neville said.

“What we have done is say ‘we have a couple of vulnerable groups in our community, rather than a three-year order, it is a 12-month order’.”

NSW’s Ombudsman found police were using the state’s anti-consorting laws to unfairly target children, the homeless and Aboriginal people.

Queensland Police Service has also defended its powers.

Federation of Community Legal Centres engagement director Melanie Poole said the laws were a dangerous overreach.

“People should be free to have a BBQ, go to the movies, talk online, play football or socialise with whoever they choose,” said Poole.

“If introduced, these unfair laws will affect the freedom of all Victorians.”

Federal Greens member for Melbourne Adam Bandt told ABC radio today that Victoria should not follow Queensland’s “guilt by association” laws.

“This was subject to a lot of challenge elsewhere around the country,” he said.

“Labor, it seems that they’ve been suckered into a law and order auction by the Liberals and I think it will make things worse.”

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