As a member of the Finks Motorcycle Club, I live a life that is different to a lot of people in this room.
I wear my club colours, I ride motorbikes with my mates, and we meet to discuss our shared interest.
But despite what the New South Wales police and government would have you believe, I’m otherwise a pretty normal bloke.
The ‘anti-association laws’ in New South Wales give the police the power to treat me differently based on how I look and who I associate with.
But saying that bikers shouldn’t be punished unfairly is only part of the problem. Under the Crimes (Criminal Organisations Control) Act 2009, the government can punish any social group.
These laws have been passed despite immense opposition from civil liberty groups, ethics and legal academics, religious bodies, trade unions, and politicians.
United Motorcycle Councils have been established in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia in an effort to improve the way member clubs interact within the community and to change incorrect perceptions of motorcycle clubs.
The United Motorcycle Councils of Australia have led the charge in opposing the introduction of this legislation that threatens the moral fabric of our society through the manipulation of the justice system.
When we started the United Motorcycle Council of New South Wales almost one year ago, it was with the idea that communication between clubs can be improved to alleviate any further tension.
Since the formation of the UMC have worked together to greatly improve the relationship between clubs and the public.
We have joined together to speak out against these laws that not only affect our way of life, but the lives of all Australians.
These laws do not only affect bikers. In fact the New South Wales legislation doesn't even contain the words biker or motor cycle club.
These laws strip away fundamental legal rights such as freedom of association, the presumption of innocence, open court hearings and the right of appeal.
And then they can be used against any group or individual.
While the anti-association laws contain no reference of bikers, they are also completely unclear in who they can be applied to.
The result is that they could be applied to ordinary groups such as church groups, sporting clubs, and business and industrial organisations.
It doesn’t take much to demonstrate how these laws are not strictly ‘anti-biker’, as the State Government would have you believe.
Let’s take a quick look at another group that could be considered ‘anti-establishment’… I’m sure there are a few groups around this campus today.
A number of radical political activist groups plan to disrupt business or government activities, such as Greenpeace’s efforts to stop Japanese whaling, or the Socialist Alliance’s rallies against G20 summits…
Many members have been arrested on the grounds of civil disobedience.
Because of the nature of these laws in allowing legal action to be taken against individuals based on the actions of other individuals, anyone associated with a group like Greenpeace or the Socialist Alliance face terrible consequences.
The results are that, for example, the successful lawyer may be prevented from associating with their friends and colleagues because in their university years they were an animal rights activist or an outspoken socialist.
The ease with which these laws can be applied to everyday organisations as well as politically charged groups highlights not only their danger to democratic society, but also their inability to function.
The point is, that all people living in Australia should be free to lawfully associate.
Our existing laws are sufficient to punish crime and corruption.
There is no need for a law that says that any citizen can lose their livelihood and be declared a criminal, simply by talking to someone else.
There is no need for the police to have powers to coerce information from witnesses, and send them to jail if they don’t receive the answers they need.
I challenge you, as teachers and students of the law to look deeply into them and spread the word against them.
