Thursday 29 January 2015

UNPRECEDENTED CRACKDOWN ON ORGANISED CRIME UNDER LABOR

Media Release


Tougher sentences for organised crime, a Commission of Inquiry into organised crime and more resources for police would see a Labor Government undertake an unprecedented crackdown on organised crime in Queensland.
Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said Labor’s zero tolerance stance against organised crime wasn’t just limited to outlaw motorcycle gangs.
“I have made clear Labor’s zero-tolerance stance against bikie gangs, but where the Premier’s focus stops at bikies, mine extends to every arm of organised crime operating in Queensland,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“Labor’s policy will clamp down on outlaw motorcycle gangs, but also zero in on other elements of organised crime, especially those producing and distributing dangerous drugs.
“We will not waver in our bid to crackdown on the pervasive nature of organised crime.
“As well as an unprecedented Commission of Inquiry and a wide-ranging review into the LNP’s unworkable laws, we will create a new offence in the Criminal Code of ‘serious organised crime’ with penalties of up to life imprisonment.
“It’s time the politics was taken out of this debate, and everyone worked together to clamp down on organised crime.”
Ms Palaszczuk said a Commission of Inquiry into Organised Crime would be established, and a high level taskforce including police, the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, the Bar Association, the Law Society and the Police Union would conduct an immediate review into the LNP’s unworkable laws.
“A Commission of Inquiry is desperately needed in order to dig deep into organised crime networks, which can be highly sophisticated, well-resourced and have significant links to overseas crime syndicates.
“Intelligence from the Commission of Inquiry, expected to take six months to complete, will also be used to identify any gaps in legislation and resources available to police.
“At the same time, a high-level taskforce will review the LNP’s current laws, which have not resulted in one single conviction. I’d expect that review to be completed by the end of 2015.
“We will repeal and replace these laws, but they will be replaced by workable, fair laws that are developed by experts, and not rammed through Parliament with no consultation in the middle of the night.
“The laws won’t change until the taskforce and the Commission of Inquiry has reported to Government, but they will be repealed and replaced with laws that work and laws that will actually lead to convictions.”
Shadow Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath said Labor’s Keeping Our Community Safe policy also outlined plans to bolster police resources.
“Labor will go beyond the flawed laws implemented by the LNP and target all organised crime, not just crime committed by outlaw motorcycle gangs,” she said.
“This taskforce will also consider Labor’s proposal to introduce into the Criminal Code a new offence of ‘serious organised crime’ with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
“People convicted under this new law would be declared serious violent offenders and serve a minimum of 80% of their sentence or at least 15 years in jail if sentenced to life in prison.
“This penalty represents tougher maximum penalties than those currently included in the LNP’s laws.”
Ms D’Ath said all relevant existing laws would stay in place until the outcome of the review and alternative legislation was passed after being subject to the consultation the LNP failed to undertake.
She said Labor’s policy also included a commitment of an extra $20 million over four years to help police target crime hotspots, organised crime and drug crime, and alcohol -fuelled violence.
Labor’s Keeping Our Community Safe policy includes:
- a new offence in the Criminal Code of ‘serious organised crime’ with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
- a Commission of Inquiry into Organised Crime
- The establishment of a high level taskforce involving major stakeholders to review the LNP’s laws that haven’t resulted in one single conviction
- greater support for police with an extra $20 million over four years to focus on alcohol-fuelled violence and drug crimes
- matching any police recruitment planned by the LNP that was already in the forward estimates
- deliver improved safety equipment for police including $5 million for body-worn cameras

- negotiate the next police EBA in good faith and restore the independence of the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission.

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