Page 154 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 13 February 2019
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place. It is the opposition and Mr Hanson that voted to stop an additional $1.6 million being provided to ACT police in the most recent budget. Without support from the ACT government, ACT Policing’s Taskforce Nemesis would not have achieved the success that they have. Over the past year, ACT police have laid 78 charges against 29 criminal gang members and have executed 101 search warrants. Since the beginning of last year, Taskforce Nemesis have seized 1,480 rounds of ammunition, 20 weapons and two vehicles relating to criminal gang activity. I can assure you, Madam Speaker, that the government is taking this activity very seriously.
As well as providing additional resources, the government has also acted to strengthen our laws, and we will continue working to tackle these serious criminal gang activities. Unlike those opposite, our approach to serious criminal gangs is not just to have a go. It is to work with the experts to deliver change that will help to tackle these serious criminal gangs. We have indeed resourced ACT Policing, and they have been successful. We have also instituted tougher penalties for drive-by shootings, including a specific offence with a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment. We have provided new powers to ACT police to preserve evidence in a timely manner. (Time expired.)
MR WALL: Minister, has ACT Policing identified any outlaw motorcycle gang members as being members of trade unions and participating in industrial activities as they were in Victoria?
MR GENTLEMAN: As I said, I have not been briefed on any connection between union activity and outlaw motorcycle gangs. The ACT police are doing a fantastic job in ensuring they can keep criminal gang activity down. I congratulate them on the incredible work that they have done over past years. We will continue to resource ACT Policing as best we can, particularly in regard to criminal gang activity. That resourcing will—
Mr Wall: Pass the consorting laws. That is within your power.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Wall!
MR GENTLEMAN: That resourcing is taking effect. In regard to Mr Wall’s interjection on particular laws, I refer him to the Chief Police Officer’s statements where he said that no particular single law will be just as effective. We need to take a range of actions. They will be working with government to ensure the reduction of criminal gang activity across the ACT. Those efforts are being successful.
MR HANSON: Minister, has any investigation into this issue been undertaken by ACT Policing or any other body given that bikie gangs are now moving to Canberra due to our weak bikie law?
MR GENTLEMAN: There has been no brief to me about any of that associated activity that Mr Hanson insinuates is going on. In regard to bikies moving to the ACT, the Chief Police Officer has advised me and the press that there are no extra bikies in the ACT. It has been the same number over the past couple of years.
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