Page 3224 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 23 August 2017
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MRS KIKKERT: What specific support does the ACT government provide to Bimberi staff who experience occupational violence?
MS BERRY: There would be a number of programs provided by the ACT government to support employees in different circumstances within their workplace. For employees at Bimberi, if there have been employees at Bimberi who have been exposed to occupational violence, I will have to take it on notice to see what sort of particular support was provided to those individuals.
Crime—motorcycle gangs
MRS KIKKERT: My question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Following the arrival of more than 100 bikies in Canberra over the weekend, Minister, the Canberra Times reports:
Canberra has experienced an outbreak of bikie-related violence in recent
Weeks …
The most recent incidents—three shootings in less than a fortnight—have
marked an escalation in the battle for supremacy in the south …
In one incident, an AK-47 assault rifle was used to pepper the Waramanga
house and car of a Comanchero with 27 bullets, days after a Kambah home
linked to a Nomads member was targeted.
Minister, you are quoted in the article as saying: “I haven’t received any evidence to see that they would work in the ACT.”
Minister, with shootings, fire-bombings and hundreds of bikies coming to Canberra in a “battle for supremacy”, what further evidence do you need to give Canberrans the same protection as citizens in New South Wales?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mrs Kikkert for her question. The important part here is to look at the application of these particular laws. The question goes to laws that are about consorting. What we are trying to do is give the ACT police more powers in relation to work that they can do on the ground to stop outlaw motorcycle gangs. As you would be aware, Madam Speaker, the chief police officer has told her people on the ground that outlaw motorcycle gangs are the number one priority. In the most recent activity, where Comancheros came into the ACT, ACT police were at their strongest with regard to outlaw motorcycle gangs. They followed them for the whole day. There were a number of traffic infringements issued. Motorcycle gang people were excluded from a late-night club in Fyshwick as well, and police were involved in that.
With regard to consorting laws as against other laws, we have not seen any evidence that they would work in the ACT. Indeed, there have been some issues with them in other states. That is where—
Opposition members interjecting—
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