WAR DECLARED ON ANGELS

It's finished: Rees vows to wipe out bikie gang violence
All words and images Copyright © 2009 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
'Your days are up' ... Rees gets tough on bikies. (AAP: Alan Porritt, file photo)
       
The New South Wales Government says its proposed new bikie gang laws are designed to rid the state of bikie gang violence.
Under the laws to go before State Cabinet tomorrow, the police commissioner will be able to make an application to the Supreme Court to have a bikie gang declared a "criminal organisation" on the basis of intelligence about its activities.
If any of its members continue to then associate with each other, they will be immediately charged, and face jail terms if convicted.
The Government says the laws go further than the South Australian legislation, which is facing a High Court challenge.
NSW Premier Nathan Rees says the laws should send a clear message to those involved in bikie gang activities.
"[It means] that your days are up. It's finished," he said.
"The overlapping into the public domain of violent incidents, that occurred at the airport last weekend, has meant that enough is enough.
"These strong laws are aimed at eliminating bikie-related violence right across New South Wales."
Mr Rees has dimissed suggestions his proposed laws are too draconian and weaken fundamental human rights.
The Greens and civil liberties groups says the laws could be used to ban other groups in future but the Premier says that is not the intention.
"Let me be clear, this is about activity that relates to bikie gangs," he said.
The Opposition says if the laws give the police the powers they need to "smash" bikie gangs, it will support them.
Tags: government-and-politics, states-and-territories, law-crime-and-justice, crime, laws, police, nsw