Tasmanian police monitoring the behaviour of hundreds of bikies visiting Hobart for anniversary celebrations say they will lobby the State Government for anti-association laws.

About 400 members of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang gathered in Hobart on Friday to mark the Tasmanian chapter's 20th year after riding down from Devonport and along the east coast.

About 60 police from Tasmania and every Australian state have been brought in to monitor the event, which police have described as the largest-ever gathering of bikies in Tasmania.

Sorry, this video has expired Tight security as Rebels arrive in Tasmania

Police said three bikies tested positive for drugs, while one was over the legal alcohol limit.

Three knives were seized and suspected cannabis residue was detected.

Rebels Motorcyle Club members arrive in Hobart to celebrate 20th anniversary of club in the state. ( ABC News: Simon Payne )

Detective Inspector Glen Ball said a proposal to ask the Government for laws to stamp down on outlaw gangs was being prepared.

It would include preventing bikies from associating with each other and wearing gang colours in public.

"There are certainly legislative powers that would be useful," he said.

"There have been some problems with some jurisdictions, but we are certainly looking at those that appear to be working well.

"We will be putting a package together for legislative reform here."

We're here to have fun: Little Mick

Rebels member "Little Mick" said non-association laws in Queensland had done nothing but cost the state money.

"I'm from Queensland, so I've lived with these laws for about four years," he said.

"They've spent up to $500 million to the last count, which was probably a year ago on these laws.

"No-one's been prosecuted, all the clubs still exist, all they've done by banning colours is making it harder to recognise us, so it's hindering the police intelligence."

Rebels member Little Mick says the money that would be spent on policing laws police want would be a waste. ( ABC News: Edith Bevin )

Little Mick said there were a lot of clubs besides bikies that used the idea of colours — including football teams — that could also intimidate people.

"If you look at a policeman's uniform, it's got guns and weapons hanging off it, so I think that's more intimidating than a Confederate flag and the word Rebels.

"We wait all year to get to together for a ride, this is our ride, we're not here to cause trouble — we're here to have fun."

The Rebels gathered at the cenotaph on arrival in Hobart. ( ABC News: Rhiannon Shine )

Paul Kilkenny said he had been a gang member for 43 years, and said the police scrutiny was unnecessary.

"It's way overkill. It's all costing you, " he said.

"When we went to Perth, it cost them [police] $7 million [to monitor us]. They could have built a new hospital, instead of following us across the Nullabour.

"What were we going to do; steal the wildfowers?"

He said drugs could be found in all kinds of organisations.

"I guarantee you, there'd be a drug dealer in lots of different clubs, not just a motorcycle club," he said.

"If someone is doing something wrong in our clubs, arrest them, put them in jail, it's that simple, but the club as itself is not a criminal organisation."

Apart from a few incidents of dangerous riding on the Bass and Midlands Highways, police said the bikies had been well behaved.