Cyclists banned from government workplaces due to strict measures

Bikers and organised crime gangs could face criminal charges if they enter government lands while wearing their club badges, under new laws in Victoria, introduced in the wake of the CFMEU scandal.

The Criminal Organisations Control Amendment Bill was introduced into the Victorian parliament by the Labor government on Wednesday.

The legislation was rushed through after allegations emerged in July of motorcycle gang infiltration into the CFMEU and organised crime links within the construction sector.

Members of organized crime gangs should no longer be allowed into government workplaces, Attorney General Jaclyn Symes said.

However, she said employers are not tasked with betraying employees suspected of being involved in organised crime.

“Many members of criminal motorcycle gangs make no secret of the fact that they are members of such an organisation,” Ms Symes told reporters in parliament.

“In addition to the obvious examples of membership, the police have detailed information about who these people are.

“Police can charge people who are members of a proscribed criminal organisation if they enter a workplace in Victoria.”

Criminal gangs designated by the Victoria Police Chief Commissioner are also no longer allowed to display their gang insignia in public.

This change is based on the ban on Nazi symbols in the state and means that it will be illegal for members to wear their badge, patch or emblem on clothing, jewelry or on signs, flags or vehicles.

Police Minister Anthony Carbines said the gang colour ban was stricter than similar laws in NSW.

“We have seen what works in other states, but now we can go a step further and give Victoria Police the most modern powers in the country to tackle organised crime,” he said.

Another important change is that the threshold for police to issue unlawful association orders is being lowered as part of a new plan.

Police can use these warrants to separate convicted criminals. Violations can result in prison sentences of up to three years.

Ms Symes said the changes were a direct response to feedback from police that the current arrangement was not working.

There will be exceptions to the rules for family members, people participating in a welfare service and people attending Aboriginal cultural events.

But the attorney general warned that the exemptions would not be granted if it was found they were being used for a hidden agenda.

“We have significantly narrowed the exceptions so that they can no longer be used as loopholes to bring people together, interact with each other and discuss criminal activity,” Symes said.

A new program to prevent serious crime also gives the police chief the ability to petition a judge to impose strict conditions on criminals or their suspected accomplices.

The measure targets organised crime leaders and could result in people being banned from leaving Victoria and being banned from possessing firearms or certain amounts of cash.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto said the changes came “too little, too late” after official reports to parliament showed anti-consorting notices had not been used in previous years.

“The Allan Labor government’s bill may be good because it strengthens existing legislation, but it doesn’t solve the real problem,” he said.