Page 1549 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 31 March 2009
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outlaw motorcycle gangs, there are provisions that ban certain organisations. There are provisions that ban the association of individuals without the need to prove any criminal offence.
These are important matters, ones that go to the heart of human rights principles and which are very important in the context of the operation of our Human Rights Act, the compatibility of any potential legislation and the broader protection of those political and civil liberties that we believe to be so important in a democratic state. For all of these reasons, it is important that this evidence is brought to the table and that these issues and this information are made available for all members so that an informed and considered view can be reached.
The government is not of the view that it is appropriate to rush in legislation simply in response to the sensational media coverage of what are undoubtedly disturbing and violent incidents interstate. In fact, in many respects, the circumstances in the territory are unchanged from what they were one or two months ago or two or five years ago. We have a low level of outlaw motorcycle gang activity; we have a low level of associated crime; and on the face of it, notwithstanding the events in Tuggeranong in the last week, the situation is effectively unchanged.
But before we take a decision, let us do so with the best available evidence. Let us do so in a considered and reflective way that has regard to the broad range of complex issues at play. Let us not respond in a knee-jerk fashion, in a sensationalist way, because the matter has been hitting the headlines over the current weeks.
I say again: Canberra is not Sydney. We are not seeing drive-by shootings; we are not seeing continued assaults in public places; we are not seeing the apparent turf war that is occurring in New South Wales. Indeed, we have seen over the last few days a major influx of outlaw motorcycle gang members occurring in a peaceful manner, occurring without significant disruption to our community and occurring in a way that was well monitored and controlled by the police.
Let us progress this debate in a considered fashion. Let us have regard to the developments interstate but let us draw our opinions and ultimately our decisions about whether or not reforms are needed to ACT law on the basis of the facts rather than a response to sensationalist headlines and media coverage over the last few weeks.
That is the intent of the motion. I would propose that this report be developed by the government, by my Department of Justice and Community Safety and by ACT Policing, and be provided to the Assembly by the last sitting day in June. I have put that date of June forward because that is the legal time frame which the New South Wales government have indicated will be the period in which they will introduce their legislation into their state parliament. So even though they have made certain policy announcements in the last few weeks, they have indicated that the bills will not be before their parliament before June.
Now is the time to reflect; now is the time to gather the evidence; now is the time to provide the information and then make a considered decision on the most appropriate way forward. I commend the motion to the Assembly.
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