700 Hells Angels, Gypsy Jokers, Rebels and Finks converged at the Gawler racecourse, then rode with a police escort through Barossa towns
Biker gang leaders say Premier Mike Rann has a personal axe to grind against them.
Mr Rann agrees – emphatically. "Yes, I have a personal axe to grind," he said yesterday, a day after bikies staged their protest against State Government laws which can be used to prevent members from associating with each other. "My personal axe is I am a father," Mr Rann said. "I am determined that criminal bikie gangs won't run our pubs, our clubs, or run our streets." He also called on other state governments to copy SA's legislation. In unprecedented scenes on Saturday, some of the world's most infamous bikie gangs united for a protest run through the Barossa Valley and announced plans to form their own political party to contest the next state election. About 700 Hells Angels, Gypsy Jokers, Rebels and Finks converged at the Gawler racecourse, then rode with a police escort through Barossa towns, causing traffic chaos. The protest ride coincided with a Gypsy Jokers annual run, which never before had been open to other clubs. "I know from going out there talking to real people that other parents want me to keep going," Mr Rann said. "We have tough laws against criminal bikie gangs. No decent motorcyclist has anything to run about.
"If you are involved in drugs, violence, extortion, we stand by our laws and back our police to the hilt. "I slept really well last night. That's because I have great confidence in the people of South Australia . . . No one is going to be dumb enough to vote for the bikies party." Mr Rann said supporters of the bikies would have people believe they ran "knitting circles". "They are involved in everything from murder to rape to extortion to kidnapping to running protection rackets," he said.
Asked about the strong police presence on Saturday, Mr Rann said one could imagine what would have happened if police had not been present and something had gone wrong. "I totally back the police with what they did. "This was about a demonstration by bikies who hoped we would back down. I will not back down against violent criminal gangs who are selling drugs to our kids."
Mr Rann agrees – emphatically. "Yes, I have a personal axe to grind," he said yesterday, a day after bikies staged their protest against State Government laws which can be used to prevent members from associating with each other. "My personal axe is I am a father," Mr Rann said. "I am determined that criminal bikie gangs won't run our pubs, our clubs, or run our streets." He also called on other state governments to copy SA's legislation. In unprecedented scenes on Saturday, some of the world's most infamous bikie gangs united for a protest run through the Barossa Valley and announced plans to form their own political party to contest the next state election. About 700 Hells Angels, Gypsy Jokers, Rebels and Finks converged at the Gawler racecourse, then rode with a police escort through Barossa towns, causing traffic chaos. The protest ride coincided with a Gypsy Jokers annual run, which never before had been open to other clubs. "I know from going out there talking to real people that other parents want me to keep going," Mr Rann said. "We have tough laws against criminal bikie gangs. No decent motorcyclist has anything to run about.
"If you are involved in drugs, violence, extortion, we stand by our laws and back our police to the hilt. "I slept really well last night. That's because I have great confidence in the people of South Australia . . . No one is going to be dumb enough to vote for the bikies party." Mr Rann said supporters of the bikies would have people believe they ran "knitting circles". "They are involved in everything from murder to rape to extortion to kidnapping to running protection rackets," he said.
Asked about the strong police presence on Saturday, Mr Rann said one could imagine what would have happened if police had not been present and something had gone wrong. "I totally back the police with what they did. "This was about a demonstration by bikies who hoped we would back down. I will not back down against violent criminal gangs who are selling drugs to our kids."
Bikies only need to form as a political party and have branch meetings. Government would not make laws against political parties as these would be laws against themselves