Historic opportunity to tackle organised crime in Queensland

Queensland Parliament has a chance to enact historic legislation that would provide law enforcement agencies with the strongest regime in Australia to attack organised crime in all its forms.

During a visit to the Queensland Police Service’s (QPS) Taskforce Argos operations centre, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath said the Serious Organised Crime legislation would bring a significant advantage over the Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment (VLAD) laws they would eventually replace – the ability to secure convictions.

“The Taskforce Report on Organised Crime Legislation identified significant weaknesses in the LNP’s VLAD laws that made them vulnerable to legal challenge,” Mrs D’Ath said.

“For all the bluster that came with them, the VLAD laws proved ineffective at securing convictions.

“The Palaszczuk Government’s Serious Organised Crime legislation is both operationally strong and legally robust enough to withstand challenge.

“Queensland needs laws that tackle all forms of organised crime, from child sex offenders to financial fraud networks that seek to deprive would-be investors of their life savings, and outlaw motorcycle gangs whose colours and insignia are used to cause fear and intimidation on our streets.”

Police Minister Mark Ryan said the Serious Organised Crime legislation would provide detectives engaged in the arduous work of tracking child sex offenders with new means with which to pursue these criminals.

“These appalling paedophile rings show how groups of criminals can adapt and communicate with one another to further their offending and attempt to evade detection,” said Minister Ryan.

“If parliament passes these laws, police will have the ability to more readily and effectively shut down the premises and equipment used to distribute this abhorrent material.

“Those caught involved in this offensive behaviour will also face longer sentences, with the maximum penalty for child exploitation increased from 14 to 20 years.”

Child exploitation and financial crime offences will take effect upon the passing of this Bill, with the Public Safety Order scheme to take effect three months later to support police in the practical implementation of the new laws. In addition the existing VLAD laws will remain in place for two years to enable a smooth and workable transition for police, but existing anti-association provisions will be strengthened against legal challenge by being converted to indictable offences with maximum penalties.

Media contact:

• Geoff Breusch (Attorney-General’s office): 0417 272 875
• Michelle Connolly (Police Minister’s office): 0478 325 738