Page 403 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 20 February 2018
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MADAM SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Coe; a point of order.
Mr Coe: It is on relevance. I asked about the assessment criteria. The Treasurer has spoken about the process but not the assessment criteria that his directorate uses. I ask that he be directly relevant.
Mr Barr: I have concluded my answer, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you. The answer has been concluded.
Crime—motorcycle gangs
MR HANSON: My question is to the minister for police. Minister, since other jurisdictions passed anti-bikie laws, specifically anti-consorting laws, Canberra has attracted bikie gangs that were not previously active in Canberra. Confidential files published in the Canberra Times recently reported “Multiple other incidents with Finks OMCG”–outlaw motorcycle gang—“members attempting to enter licensed premises in Canberra city over this weekend.” The report said:
Other incidents included a man being slashed with a machete during a three-man robbery in March, and a public five-on-one bashing in Fyshwick …
It was stated that “the male was being kicked and punched repeatedly, though he did not fight back”. Minister, do you have any information that yet another bikie gang is moving in to operate in Canberra?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mr Hanson for the question. I should say first off that Canberra is a safe city, but we are not immune from this sort of criminal activity that we have seen occurring over the past number of years. The history of it is, of course, that we had one criminal motorcycle gang in the ACT that operated, which was the Rebels. Then, a couple of years ago, we had another criminal gang come in and patch over the Rebels. That was the Comancheros and Nomads. There is inter-gang rivalry between the two motorcycle gangs.
I have had advice that there has been some notification of Finks in the ACT but at this time my understanding is that it is a low number, and whether or not they actually reside in the ACT I am not sure as yet. I will take Mr Hanson’s question on notice and get some more information from ACT police.
MR HANSON: Minister, what is the current status of the bikie war in Canberra, particularly between the rival gangs?
MR GENTLEMAN: I do not have interactions with the particular outlaw motorcycle gangs. The advice given to me by ACT Policing is that they are investigating. They have taken a number of actions. As you have heard, some 86 warrants have been issued for 262 offences of criminal outlaw motorcycle gangs. I give my total support to ACT Policing, and so does the government. We have invested $6.4 million in
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