Page 5285 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 29 November 2017
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
they would be used here, in the absence of the easier, lower threshold laws that could be used by ACT Policing.
Mr Ramsay was in this place yesterday, along with Mr Rattenbury, arguing for laws—as was Mr Gentleman—that the Law Society and the Bar Association have today put out a press release damning because they think they go too far. They are happy to extend those laws, but it seems that these are laws that they will not go near. The contradiction and the hypocrisy are just extraordinary. In debating that legislation, Mr Ramsay said:
The government will continue to use every available method to let serious organised crime gangs know that our community does not tolerate their criminal behaviour.
That is simply not true. What is very clear is that Mr Ramsay will not use every available method. He will use every available method, perhaps, other than any form of anti-consorting laws. It would be useful if, in the future, when Mr Ramsay makes such bold statements, he says, “Other than the sorts of effective laws that have worked in New South Wales and other jurisdictions that are driving bikies here to the ACT; other than that, we will do stuff.” That might be a more accurate reflection of what this government will do.
I am disappointed because this was a genuine attempt to legislate. I acknowledge that it is not the full suite of legislation. I am personally comfortable with the other laws introduced in New South Wales, the broader based laws, because they are effectively targeting crime gangs. But I understood that there was no way we were going to get that form of laws past the Labor Party and the Greens, so we brought in here today laws that have addressed every single element of human rights compliance, and we still cannot get them through, because this mob, no matter what we do, will not accept these sorts of laws.
I note that the Queensland Attorney-General, a Labor Attorney-General, has asked that these laws be nationally consistent and presented at COAG. I hope that is the case, and I hope that COAG saves us from the ineptitude of the current Labor-Greens government here in the ACT. As I outlined in my tabling speech, if we do not pass these laws, if we do not take this issue seriously, as I have warned since 2009, and as has been the reality, we are going to see more violence unfold in our suburbs. There will be more firebombings, there will be more shootings and there will be terror in places like Kambah, in Tuggeranong and in Weston Creek, as we have seen. If we are back here in this place talking about further violent issues—and, let us hope, not a serious injury or a death—and if we are back here with the need to bring in yet more laws that engage with human rights, as has been identified by the Law Society and the Bar Association, it is on your heads.
I am disappointed. This means we will see further violent crime in our suburbs. We are not giving the police all the tools that they need. We have made an attempt to get this done today. I will continue to argue for laws that are consistent with New South Wales so that we do not continue to see this problem. I urge members opposite to look at this issue, come back into this place and, if COAG put it on the table—which
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video