Premier Campbell Newman has told the state’s legal fraternity to “come out of your ivory towers” and realise the only reason the government introduced a raft of tough new laws because the “system was failing”.

The laws set down mandatory sentences for criminal motorcycle gang members and effectively give the government the power to keep certain offenders in jail.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman. Credit:Harrison Saragossi/File photo

Speaking to Fairfax Radio 4BC on Thursday, Mr Newman made no apologies for the laws introduced and passed in parliament last week.

He said members of the legal industry who had publicly questioned the legislation and queried whether the government was blurring the lines between the judiciary and the executive were out of touch.