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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-12-03 Daily Xml
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FIREARM PROHIBITION ORDERS

Ms PORTOLESI (Hartley) (15:04): My question is to the Minister for Police. Can the minister update the house on the first year of operation of firearm prohibition orders?

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT (Lee—Minister for Police, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:04): Last week marked the first anniversary of the introduction of firearm prohibition orders in South Australia. Through the past year, 19 individuals with extensive histories of violent offending have been served with a firearm prohibition order by South Australia Police. These individuals have demonstrated illegal activity involving firearms, serious acts of violence, armed confrontation with police, armed robberies and have significant criminal histories.

These orders are only issued in extreme circumstances to individuals who police believe are dangerous or who have a propensity towards violent behaviour. SAPOL has advised me that 14 of the firearm prohibition orders have been served against either full members or associates of criminal bikie gangs. Criminal bikie gangs present the most serious threat to South Australia out of any organised crime groups due to their impact across all levels of crime.

Last month I released figures that showed that the Crime Gangs Task Force has seized more than 86,000 street deals of illicit drugs, more than $750,000 in cash, over 160 firearms (including automatic assault rifles) and made more than 550 arrests and reports in just two years of operations.

This highlights the impact that SAPOL's Crime Gangs Task Force is having on the illegal operations of criminal bikie gangs and reinforces the state government's stance to disrupt the criminal activity of these bikie gangs.

Firearm prohibition orders give police the power to search individuals subject to an order any time and anywhere—at their homes, business premises, boat or vehicle—to ensure that they are complying with the terms of the order. This government, unlike those members opposite, is committed to ensuring that our communities are safer and that our crackdown on these criminals and criminal gangs will continue.

While we await the outcome of the High Court challenge, South Australia Police will continue to use laws such as these to target the criminal behaviour of these gangs.

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