Western Australian Police Minister John Kobelke has agreed to work with the other states and the Federal Government to draft legislation to target the alleged illegal activities of the groups.
The Opposition's Rob Johnson says if the Government is serious about cracking down on clubs, it should allow the CCC to monitor them.

Media release:
Kobelke’s claims hollow unless CCC given more powers 
 
Police Minister John Kobelke constantly misleads the people of Western Australia with claims that his government takes organised crime seriously.

Mr Kobelke’s claim today that Western Australia would join a national working group looking at ways to crack down on bikie gangs was welcome but the Carpenter Government still refused to allow the state’s powerful Corruption and Crime Commission to tackle organised crime.

Shadow Police Minister Rob Johnson said the Minister today made claims that he had put ‘a huge amount of resources and effort into gathering intelligence’ to combat organised crime but this was far from reality.

“Mr Kobelke and the Attorney General refuse to give the CCC the necessary powers to investigate and fight organised crime,” Mr Kobelke said.

“This is despite former Commissioner Kevin Hammond repeatedly asking for the ability to investigate organised crime in Western Australia.

“WA’s organised crime is visible, with outlaw motorcycle gangs who use colours, patches and fortified premises to intimidate people, the most obvious.

“The Police Minister obviously disagrees with a CCC statement to the Joint Standing Committee in December 2005 where they said ‘the best defence is to create an environment that is hostile and at the very least no less hostile than that of neighboring jurisdictions*.’

“In the CCC’s view, suspected criminal activity and the prevalence of organised crime groups is much greater in WA.”

Mr Johnson urged the Minister to lobby the Attorney General to give the CCC added powers.

“Despite the tireless and excellent work of the WA Police Gang Crime Squad, traditional policing techniques are constrained,” he said.

“The CCC has the ability and resources to undertake proactive, longer term operations, specifically targeting criminal networks*.’

“Commissioner Hammond had serious concerns about its legislation in relation to organised crime and it would appear the Carpenter Government is happy to mislead the people of WA with feel good statements as he made today.