Question Time

Rock Machine Motorcycle Club

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:58): My question is to the Attorney-General. What action is the Attorney taking to protect South Australians against the Rock Machine outlaw motorcycle gang given the current case of a South Australian police officer who claims to have been threatened by the gang?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Child Protection Reform) (14:59): First of all, I thank the honourable member for her question. Obviously, the government has demonstrated quite recently that we take the threat of criminal groups, whether they ride motorcycles or otherwise, very seriously. My position on this remains as it has been consistently, certainly since we have been debating this legislation recently this year.

If I have an approach from the Commissioner of Police saying to me that he believes that certain steps are necessary in respect of a particular group, I would think very carefully about his concerns. I would try and discharge my function under the legislation. I would, if necessary, then contact the Crime and Public Integrity Policy Committee of the parliament, which now has a role to play in relation to these matters, and I would consider the introduction of an appropriate regulation under the act. So far as I am aware, the commissioner has not approached me. There might be a letter in the works somewhere that I haven't seen, but I can say with some confidence that I would remember a request of that type if it had been made to me.