Monday, May 26, 2008

GWB PNG in SA

President Bush joins a Biker Gang

Today's headlines proclaim that "President Bush Joins A Biker Gang" and at the same time the South Australian state government put the President on their "bikie gang violence" list. This makes GWB PNG in SA... In diplomatic terms PNG = PERSONA NON GRATA

Below is an article from the Adelaide Advertiser that reports on the efforts of South Australia's ATTORNEY-GENERAL Michael Atkinson to get the anti-bikie legislation passed.

MPs at loggerheads over bikie laws



JOANNA VAUGHAN, POLITICAL REPORTER

May 05, 2008 03:10pm

ATTORNEY-GENERAL Michael Atkinson has called on members of the state's upper house to "cut the infantile sandpit politics" and pass new anti-bikie legislation. The controversial bill, which will make it illegal to associate with known bikies six or more times a year and ban bikies from specific locations, was scheduled to be debated last week, but was adjourned.

Mr Atkinson spoke out a day after dozens of bystanders were forced to dive for cover after a shootout near Gaucho's restaurant on Gouger St. He has criticised the minor parties such as the Greens and the Democrats for introducing more than 100 amendments to "hold it up." He said motorcycle gangs will never be "outlawed" until the bikie bill was passed. "Time and again South Australia is seeing the consequence of bikie gang violence," he said. "For 15 years I have heard politicians and senior police officers talk about outlaw motorcycles gangs. They are not outlaw gangs until such time as this bill comes in and subjects them to genuine legal disabilities."

Opposition Leader Martin Hamilton-Smith, however, accused the Government of stalling the Bill. He said Police Minister Paul Holloway chose to adjourn the debate last week, stalling progress on both the bikie and WorkCover bills. "Minister Holloway is the one who has constantly delayed these bills," he said. "They have delayed it, they have caused inaction but here is their chance to fix it. If the Government wants this bill debated, we are ready."

Greens MP Mark Parnell also blamed the Government. "It's the Government, not me, who has been holding up this Bill," he said. "I've been ready and waiting for nine sitting days - where was the Government?"

Democrats leader Sandra Kanck accused Mr Atkinson of trying to scare Parliament into passing the "draconian" laws with "this latest bikie beat-up". "The Attorney-General is using the shocking incident as a trigger to justify passage of his extraordinary bill," she said. "So far we don't even know if there was any involvement by bikies in the Gouger St shootout."

Labels:

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home