Anti-Association Law Protests Across the Country
Tuesday 28 January 2014 @ 10.42 a.m. | Crime
Demonstrations against Queensland’s Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Act 2013 (VLAD Act, also known as the Anti-Bikie laws,) took place across the country on Australia Day, as hundreds of people gathered in capital cities and regional centers protesting the controversial anti-association laws.
Anti-Bikie Laws
Last year the Queensland government passed the VLAD Act, which provides for the government to be able to proclaim any group a criminal organisation without having to present evidence to prove it. People may also face jail time by associating with people declared to be members of a criminal gang.
With news that other states are poised to adopt similar laws, the FREE Australia Party staged the protests which attracted mostly motorcyclists in a number of locals including Brisbane and Adelaide where over 200 people converged on Parliament House from about midday.
The South Australian Government has indicated they will be paying close attention to the outcome of the pending High Court challenge to the VLAD Act, set to take place later this year, to decide whether to proceed with similar new anti-association legislation in that state later this year. Similar laws passed by the South Australian and New South Wales state governments over the past five years have been struck down by the High Court.
Human Rights Issues
In addition to the high cost of numerous High Court challenges, the legislation has also raised significant human rights issues.
Australia’s next Human Rights Commissioner, Tim Wilson has written about these concerns, highlighting that:
“if bikies commit crimes the police should investigate and prosecute criminals. But from a human rights perspective it is entirely unjust that freedom of association should be squashed to make the job of the police easier to investigate. Rather than empowering police to prevent an already comprehensive list of crimes, these laws have created a host of new crimes that could easily be used to punish law-abiding citizens in the wrong place at the wrong time...The Queensland anti-bikie laws are inconsistent with an individual’s right to freely associate and should be repealed”.
Queensland’s Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie has, on the other hand, refused to comment on whether the legislation will be re-written if it is ruled invalid by the High Court. Mr Bleijie said the government had mounted a battle against bikie gangs fully expecting legal challenges.
“We will defend the laws like we’ve always said; we expected they would be challenged..Challenging government laws is not something new in Queensland – it is not something new across Australia. It happens all the time and we’ll respond appropriately, given the opportunity.”
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