25 June 2008
Monash University academic and bikie gang expert Dr Arthur Veno has called for the immediate establishment of an independent commission against corruption in South Australia in response to a "moral panic attack" that has erupted over serious and organised crime legislation.
Dr Veno, from the University's School of Political and Social Inquiry, made the call as part of a submission to a Federal Parliamentary Joint Committee investigating the merits of the state laws.
Dr Veno and co-author Dr Julie van den Eynde from the University of Queensland's Faculty of Social and Behavioural Science said the current legislation, implemented as part of the Serious and Organised Crime Act, was draconian and did not have any basis in fact.
"What we're seeing here is smoke and mirrors. The Rann Government has labelled SA outlaw motorcycle clubs as public enemy number one," Dr Veno said.
"Yet the facts say otherwise. Crime attributable to bikie gangs as a proportion of total crime is extremely low - less than one per cent.
"No one is saying that these clubs are criminal free, but the Rann Government and the South Australian Police are basically wasting tax payers' money to target an element of society which is responsible for a miniscule amount of crime."
Dr Veno said the legislation:
- provided the Attorney General with unheard of discretionary powers to deem organisations 'criminal';
- didn't adequately define organised crime; and
- provided no appeals process for those organisations branded under the legislation.
"There are no checks and balances for the administration of these new powers," Dr Veno said.
"Absolute power vested in the hands of the few can create the potential for corruption and goes against the principles of our democratic system of governance.
"Our only possible recourse is to put some balance back into the system and to establish an independent authority to oversee the implementation of this legislation."
For further information contact Shaunnagh O'Loughlin, Media and Communications +61 3 9903 4843.
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