BIKIE GANGS

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:51): My question is to the Minister for Police. Will the minister update this council on the state government's efforts to tackle serious and organised crime, in particular criminal bikie gangs? Are there any alternative public views on this issue?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (14:52): I thank the honourable member for his very important question. Today the federal parliamentary joint committee inquiring into the legislative arrangements to outlaw serious and organised crime groups is conducting a hearing in Adelaide.

The Hon. B.V. Finnigan interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Yes; the member for Wakefield, Nick Champion, is a member of that committee. A number of witnesses will be appearing before the committee, including SA  Assistant Police Commissioner Tony Harrison, Chief Inspector Damian Powell (who has played an integral role in developing the Serious and Organised Crime Act), and the head of the Crime Gangs Task Force, Superintendent Des Bray.

I had the opportunity this week to read some submissions that have already been made to that inquiry, and I must say that I was gobsmacked by some of the nonsense contained in them. For instance, one submission has attempted to portray certain outlaw motorcycle gang members as 'well respected public figures', and another claims that bikie gangs provide 'important social support networks'. One submission even went so far as to claim that to become a full member you are expected to carry out tasks such as 'building fish ponds for members'. Of course, all these claims are wide of the mark and do not paint a true picture of what is really happening within these criminal bikie gangs. For a start, it is well known that to become a full member gangs traditionally require a demonstration of loyalty, such as an assault on a rival gang member or the carrying out of some sort of criminal activity. Arthur Veno, who describes himself as a bikie gang expert, stated in his submission to the inquiry:

The Rann government and SAPOL are basically plundering the public purse to crush an element of society which is responsible for a minuscule amount of crime.

The state government does not consider that the seizure of more than 18,000 deals of ecstasy and amphetamines, 2,200 deals of LSD and other drugs, 24.5 kilograms of cannabis, more than $231,000 of property, and the apprehension of 230 offenders in just 12 months is a 'minuscule amount of crime'. In addition, hundreds of weapons have been seized at criminal bikie gang properties, including fully automatic assault rifles, ballistic vests, and prohibited and dangerous weapons such as double-edged knives, stun guns and knuckledusters. Indeed, I noticed, coming in here, that the media had reported further weapons seized in relation to bikie gangs just this morning. Dr Veno's submission goes on to say:

Outlaw motorcycle clubs have been part of the rich tapestry of cultures and subcultures which comprise our country for at least 50 years.

Well, unlike Dr Veno, I do not consider criminal groups involved in drug manufacturing, importation and distribution, murder, vice, fraud, blackmail, assaults, public disorder and intimidation as 'part of the rich tapestry of cultures and subcultures which comprise our country'.

These gangs are now actively recruiting the services of members of less known and lower-level street gangs and using them to undertake high risk aspects of their criminal enterprises, including violence, carrying weapons and the manufacture and distribution of illegal drugs. Criminal bikie gangs are now relying upon professionals—particularly accountants and lawyers—to create complicated structures to hide the proceeds of their crimes. They are increasingly infiltrating legitimate industries and using professionals to provide insulation from law enforcement and enhance their income opportunities.

These gangs present the most serious threat to South Australia of any organised crime groups, due to their impact across all levels of crime. This reinforces the state government's stance to disrupt the criminal activity of these bikie gangs, dismantle their organised crime networks and discourage others from trying to set up in South Australia. In the past year, large-scale simultaneous raids targeting gang members and associates confirmed that these gangs are involved in numerous and continuous criminal activities.

The raids conducted by the Crime Gangs Taskforce have resulted in the seizure of large caches of illicit drugs, firearms and loaded pistols, as well as large sums of cash, clandestine drug laboratories and property.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Significant apprehensions in the past 12 months include: a street gang located in possession of 2,901 ecstasy tablets; an OMCG member and two associates for attempted murder following the shooting of a man in a home invasion; an outlaw motorcycle gang senior club member arrested in possession of 2,000 LSD tablets, 58 ecstasy tablets, three firearms, two cannabis plants, a stolen air-conditioner, stolen car parts and $25,000; an outlaw motorcycle gang senior club member; and an associate arrested in possession of 4,000 ecstasy tablets, $275,000 in cash and firearms—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Ridgway and the Hon. Mr Wortley might take their debate outside.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: —an OMCG senior member for trafficking ecstasy and unlawful possession of money in the upper north of the state; an OMCG member for the manufacturing of amphetamine for distribution in regional areas; two senior OMCG members and associates arrested for conspiracy in respect of a plan to seriously assault a person and steal his car; and a person arrested in possession of very large amounts of amphetamine that was being produced and sold for an outlaw motorcycle gang. Several members of outlaw motorcycle gangs have been arrested for offences involving extortion, blackmail and threats to cause harm. Police have also located a clandestine drug laboratory at a Semaphore Park address linked to members of an outlaw motorcycle gang.

The focus on these criminal bikies will further increase when the serious and organised crime act comes into effect. We will continue to work with SAPOL to ensure that as many changes to the criminal law as necessary are made and that they are given the resources they need to crack down on the activities of these gang members. It is clear that these gangs are continuing their abhorrent activities and this government intends to do everything in its power to deliver the result that all South Australians want—an end to their criminal operations. Today the state government has provided its own submission to the parliamentary joint committee inquiry and copies will be available on the website of that committee.