WA to push ahead with anti-bikie legislation

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The State Government intends to push ahead with its plans for legislation to outlaw motorcycle gangs, despite South Australia's anti-bikie laws being deemed invalid by the Supreme Court today.

Revelations that South Australia's anti-bikie laws are invalid has cast doubt on similar legislation elsewhere in the nation.

Attorney-General Christian Porter said he intended to proceed irrespective of the South Australia decision.

"The central reason why we did not rush legislation into parliament in this sitting was because we were aware of this impending South Australia decision and wanted to analyse the outcome to see how we could avoid difficulties with our own legislation," Mr Porter said.

SA was the first State or territory to introduce anti-bikie laws aimed at dismantling the motorcycle clubs.

SA's legislation empowered police to ask magistrates to place control orders on bikie gang members, effectively banning them from associating with each other.

Eight members of the Finks motorcycle club had control orders imposed on them, but two - Sandro Totani and Donald Hudson - challenged the orders in court, arguing they were unconstitutional.

In a judgment delivered on Friday, the Full Court of the SA Supreme Court declared the control orders, made under section 14 of the Serious and Organised Crime (Control) Act 2008, invalid.

NSW has enacted similar laws while Queensland and Western Australia were set to follow suit.

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National report deems Thornlie a property hotspot

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THORNLIE is one of two suburbs in Perth that has been identified as having the strongest value for home buyers, according to a report released last week.

The National Hotspots report from St George Bank said Thornlie was one of a few areas in Perth where affordable houses could still be bought relatively close to the City with quality amenities.

The current median house price for the suburb is $365,000.

St George Bank chief economist Besa Deda said the property market had proved resilient compared with the share market during the economic slowdown and over the past 10 years.

“Savvy home buyers and investors should look outside the square and consider the areas which have not attracted the same level of attention as traditional blue-ribbon locations,” Ms Deda said.

The other suburb was Bassendean.

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Thornlie precinct set for new look

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THE City of Gosnells is set to give the Thornlie civic precinct a major facelift, thanks to Federal Government funding.

The precinct, which is between the Thornlie skate park, Leisure World and Thornlie library, will be redesigned to create better access for all three facilities and to encourage positive behaviour.

City of Gosnells chief executive Ian Cowie said the work was being undertaken to address community concerns raised in a 2007 review.

“The review contained recommendations for design changes based on designing out crime principles, and also programming initiatives,” he said.

“Together these recommendations are intended to minimise the potential for anti-social behaviour and address access issues for the skate park, library and leisure centre users to ease current conflict.”

Mr Cowie said the council recognised that many different age groups used the area and the aim was to ensure the needs and requirements of all the users were taken into account.

“There is solid evidence to show that creating a better environment also encourages better behaviour,” he said. “Work to make it easier to access one facility without going through another will also reduce issues.

“The City has a proven track record of developing excellent facilities for many different users and this project will add to that list.”

The Thornlie Civic Precinct Revitalisation Project begins this month, with funding from the Government’s Safer Suburbs Plan.

A concept plan is on display at Thornlie library and Leisure World and works are expected to be completed by December.

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