Smith, Carew, Conley and Lansdowne were believed to have been charged early this morning, before Whale was later charged. Police alleged the men breached provisions in the state’s Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Bill, which bans three or more members of a criminal gang meeting in a public place. Rebels' Sunshine Coast chapter member Mike Smith said he was also in pub at the time but had not been arrested. He said he went with his son-in-law, not realising his two sons and another man were also at the Yandina Hotel in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. On Tuesday morning, he told Fairfax Media that he planned to hand himself in to police, comparing the persecution of bikies with that experienced by recently deceased former South African president Nelson Mandela.

‘‘A few days ago the greatest statesman of the world died. World leaders called him a terrorist when he was locked up, just for fighting for his rights to be black. They're doing the same thing here," he said. "What threat do a group of blokes having a beer on the veranda of a pub pose to anyone?’’ Police seize security footage Other patrons at the Yandina Hotel reportedly alerted police to the alleged bikie meeting in the pub in early November. Police seized CCTV footage from the hotel two weeks ago.

Officers from the Sunshine Coast district and Taskforce Maxima made the arrests after executing search warrants at five properties on Tuesday morning. Those charged face a mandatory prison term of six months. Arrests send 'clear message': police Police said the men spent several hours at the hotel north of Brisbane. “This sends a clear message to all members of criminal motorcycle gangs that police will take action in every instance where evidence and information is received,” Detective Superintendent Mick Niland said.

“Police from the Sunshine Coast have done a great job investigating the information provided by the community which has resulted in a positive result today. "I’d like to reinforce to the community across the state to continue to assist police to stop illegal activities and criminal actions of gang members.” We're fathers and grandfathers: Smith Mike Smith said none of the men were wearing club colours and three were not club members. He and another man involved were grandfathers, while the others were fathers. He was also the primary carer for his wife who has a disability, he said.

He admitted that three had previous criminal convictions, but said these were either irrelevant to the Rebels or had occurred decades earlier. Mr Smith said in the 22-year history of the Sunshine Coast chapter, no Rebels member had been charged with a criminal offence. Mr Smith and two fellow Rebels were ordered to leave the Maroochydore Magistrates Court last month while waiting to give evidence in a trial. A police sergeant warned the group they could be arrested under anti-association laws by sitting in the same court room together. Victoria considers following suit Mr Smith joined the club because of his love for motorbikes, he said. He has been a Rebel for 13 years and has owned 26 Harley Davidsons.

He said his son-in-law had never owned a Harley or expressed any interest in the club but had put up a gutter at the club house because he was a builder, leading police to classify him as involved with the club. Mr Smith said no Rebels had met at the club house since anti-association laws were passed. "Queensland: beautiful one day, Nazi state the next," he said. Victoria Police say they are considering using the laws to prosecute bikies in that state, and several other jurisdictions are closely monitoring Queensland's legislation, which is being challenged in the High Court Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Graham Ashton told the ABC in October that he was asking for advice on whether a clause in Victorian laws could be used to circumvent the "all reasonable doubt" test, which makes the Victorian laws more difficult to enforce before court than the Queensland regulations.

Loading Police may be able to register a "corresponding declaration" from another state, without a Supreme Court judge having to consider an application. "It would appear on first reading that once an agency or an organisation ... such as an outlaw motorcycle gang is declared in Queensland, that we are able to make a corresponding declaration here, so that's what we are looking at the moment," Mr Ashton said.



