Qld: Bikies pool together under one banner

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-2009
Qld: Bikies pool together under one banner

BRISBANE, April 19 AAP - All 17 of Queensland's bikie clubs have united under a parent
body to stamp out violence and lobby government.

In a historical move, disparate motorcycle gangs including Lone Wolf, Finks, Hells
Angels, Life and Death, Tribe of Judah, Bandidos and Rebels rode side by side to officially
launch the United Motorcycle Council of Queensland (UMCQ) in Brisbane on Sunday.

This comes in the wake of tough anti-bikie laws being implemented by the Queensland
and federal governments since the Hells Angels and Comancheros were involved in a fatal
brawl at Sydney airport last month.

UMCQ spokesman John Parker said the formation of the council began in earnest about
18 months ago after a brawl on the Gold Coast between the Hells Angels and and Finks.

"We get bad press all the time," Mr Parker, a Rebels member, said.

"We are only a small percentage of Australians who ride motorcycles and a very small
percentage of us that run into trouble."

Two members of each club will meet weekly to discuss grievances, proposed laws affecting
bikies and the public perception.

Mr Parker said the council would stop any trouble that might occur between the clubs
and possibly take legal action to challenge proposed bikie laws.

"We used to sit on our hands and take all of this (being unfairly targeted by government,
media and police) but that's the end of that now," he said.

"We are going to pull together."

AAP peb/sn

KEYWORD: BIKIES QLD

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