In short:
The ACT government says it will not consider joining the rest of the nation in implementing anti-consorting laws, despite calls from the territory's chief police officer.
Outlaw motorcycle gangs have grown in the ACT in recent years, and some argue the groups are attracted to its lack of consorting laws.
Other efforts by the ACT government to combat bikie gang activity have been welcomed.
The ACT government has not been swayed by the territory's chief police officer's call to introduce anti-consorting laws to stem a rise in outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCGs).
Yesterday Chief Police Officer Scott Lee publicly backed bringing in laws that would stop OMCGs from meeting in large public groups — laws which exist in all other Australian states and territories.
Deputy Commissioner Lee said there were currently five OMCGs in the ACT — the Rebels, the Bandidos, the Hells Angels, the Finks and the Comancheros — a number that has grown in recent years.
He said that growth posed a concern for ACT Policing.
But Police Minister Marisa Paterson said the proposed anti-consorting laws were "deeply problematic" and conflicted with the territory's Human Rights Act.
"The position from government hasn't changed,"
Ms Paterson said.
"We've seen evidence from other jurisdictions where anti-consorting laws have been used to target vulnerable populations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and young people," she said.
Ms Paterson said the government was "empowering police" by strengthening laws in firearms, tobacco, family violence and bail reform, in response to the increase in OMCG activity.
The government is also seeking to ban the wearing of OMCG insignia — patches or items that signify gang membership.
Call for more 'serious discussions'
Troy Roberts, the Australian Federal Police Association's government relations manager, said banning bikie gang insignia and other coming laws was an "incredibly important" step in removing the "safe haven" label he said had been given to the ACT.
However, he said "it's time the government actually listened to its chief police officer", and the AFP had been focusing on anti-consorting laws since 2019.
"[Chief Police Officer Scott Lee]'s saying there's a legislation gap, so let's fill that gap," Mr Roberts said.
"But the government has always come back to the old justification, which as we stand today, doesn't really add up anymore because we know we can legislate around those issues,"
he said.
He noted the importance of human rights laws but pointed to community safety.
"There's also the human rights of the community, and the right they should have to feel safe out in the community," he said.
"What anti-consorting would hopefully do, is stop the large gatherings that we're seeing.
"I'm a little miffed as to why we aren't having more serious discussions about introducing this law,"
Mr Roberts said.
Opposition says 'robust conversation' ahead
Opposition leader Mark Parton said his party had long called for the government to follow other jurisdictions "for the safety of the community".
"We're pleased that the chief police officer has made these views very, very clear," Mr Parton said.
"This is a matter that my party has brought three different bills to this chamber to debate on, and at least four motions."
Mr Parton urged Legislative Assembly members to act on anti-consorting laws as soon as possible.
" It would appear, based on the way this particular story has changed in recent days, that we will have an extremely robust conversation, and I hope it's a conversation that ends in the right conclusion. "
