Elizabeth Lee to introduce anti-consorting legislation
Canberra Liberals Leader Elizabeth Lee will today present the Crimes (Anti-consorting) Amendment Bill 2024 in the Legislative Assembly that would provide police in the ACT with the necessary tools to prevent outlaw motorcycle gangs from consorting in Canberra.
The ACT is only jurisdiction in the country that does not have anti-consorting laws of any kind which according to the former Chief Police Officer makes Canberra an attractive location for outlaw motorcycle gangs and organised crime.
Ms Lee said every Canberran deserves to feel safe in their community and in their homes and it is fundamentally the responsibility of government to keep its citizens safe.
“In the past the Canberra Liberals have raised serious concerns about the ACT not being aligned with other jurisdictions, particularly NSW, by having anti-consorting laws,” Ms Lee said.
“Back in 2019 the Canberra Liberals stated that without similar laws to other jurisdictions the ACT will inevitably see an increase in the number of outlaw motorcycle gangs operating in the ACT and that is exactly what we have seen.
“The former Chief Police Officer also warned that the presence of four different gangs in the ACT was concerning, raising the possibility of increased violence should these gangs start a turf war in the ACT.
“This legislation is about equipping our police with the necessary tools they need to be able to deal with these gangs and ensure that the community is protected.
“It will also send a message to outlaw motorcycle gangs that Canberra is not open for their business.”
Ms Lee also pointed to the disturbing allegations raised in recent times about the construction branch of the CFMEU.
These allegations include that bikie gangs, criminal gangs and underworld figures had infiltrated the constructions branch of the CFMEU, a union that is not only a member of ACT Labor that has had direct and influential input into party leadership positions but also provides significant donations to ACT Labor.
“Canberrans have every right to question whether the same type of criminal behaviour is occurring in the ACT, especially given there is a current investigation underway by the ACT Integrity Commission into potential union influence in the awarding of the contract for the Campbell Primary School Modernisation Project,” Ms Lee concluded.
