New human rights commissioner says he may have to fight the legislation after five alleged bikies arrested in Gold Coast

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

The incoming human rights commissioner, Tim Wilson, says he will fight to have Queensland’s anti-bikie laws repealed if they continue to be used to arrest people for things as simple as buying ice cream.

Five alleged Victorian bikies were arrested under the state’s anti-association laws on the Gold Coast on Sunday morning at the Hilton hotel while they were holidaying together.

The laws were introduced in Queensland last year as part of a suite of anti-bikie legislation and ban three or more members of outlaw motorcycle gangs meeting together in public places.

Defence lawyer, Bill Potts, who is representing two of the five, said the group were first stopped by police on their way to buy ice cream after having Chinese for dinner on Friday and then arrested a few days later.

Wilson said the arrests had reconfirmed his deep concerns about the laws.

“They [the laws] are violating the human right of association and treating people engaged in seemingly lawful acts as criminal,” he said. “There is no basis for them.”

When asked if he would pursue the rollback of the anti-association laws when he takes up the role of commissioner with the Human Rights Commission next month, Wilson replied: “If they continue to be used in this way it will be. It’s criminal to buy an ice cream now, it’s an example of the slippery slope that is the danger of diluting the human right of association.”

One of the men, Daniel Lovett, 30, is alleged to be the sergeant-at-arms of the Melbourne chapter of the Hells Angels, while Kresimir Basic is alleged to be a member of the gang and Darren Hayley a prospective member.

Bane Ajajbegovic and Dario Halolovic are alleged to be associated with the Comanchero Hallam chapter bikie gang.

The five did not enter a plea when they appeared in Southport magistrates court on Monday and are being remanded in custody until their next hearing on 17 February.

It is the first time visitors from outside Queensland have been arrested under the association laws and none of the men were wearing bikie colours when they originally drew the attention of police in Surfers Paradise.

Detective Inspector Brendan Smith of Taskforce Maxima said it was unusual for members of different motorcycle gangs to be congregating together and though they said they were on holiday, police were investigating further.

It has been reported that the men were engaged in “peace talks” between the gangs but Potts, who is representing Ajajbegovic and Halolovic, rejected the reports.

Smith said police also had intelligence that the men had met with Queensland bikies while on the Gold Coast.