(Photo: Christopher Bligh)
August 19, 2014
Time is running out for online pre-bookings for an anti-VLAD rally “Freedom Family Fun Day” and concert planned at Wooroolin in November.
So far $780 has been pledged to make the event a reality, short of the $5000 target that organisers have set.
The day, planned to be held at Wooroolin Sports Ground from 10:00am on November 1, is being organised by Greens campaigner Grant Newson in protest at the State Government’s “Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment” laws which have targeted outlaw motorcycle clubs throughout Queensland.
Headline act is Brisbane tribute band ZZ Topzz.
They’ll be backed up by protest singer Chris Webbe, Steve Skinner, Paul Robert Burton, Noise Burner, The Cameron Complex and Fat Pigs.
No alcohol will be sold on site but food and soft drinks will be available.
Grant said there would also be stalls for adults and children, a jumping castle, fairy floss, face-painting and arcade games.
Free camping will be available on site.
All tickets – which are $20 – must be pre-booked.
Children aged 12-16 are $10 (11 and under free).
UPDATE September 1: There’s a new online site to book tickets
Why would you have a ‘family fun day’ to protest laws that are targeted at criminal gangs dealing in drugs? Seems like a bit of an oxymoron type of an arrangement, in more ways than one…
That is a typical LNP response Damien. You wish to label every motorbike club or motorbike rider a drug dealer? Our local LNP member Deb Frecklington has also made the same false defaming broad statement on her FB page. Since the media grabbed the LNP catch phrase of ‘bikie laws’, that is what Newman has taken and ran with. Now all of a sudden if relates to ‘criminal gangs’ ? Too late.
The VLAD legislation does not even mention or have any reference to motorbike riders, motorbike clubs in any way shape or form. The broadly written laws have been criticised from the Police Commissioner, Police Union, many in the Judicial system all the way down the line.
The blind draconian dictatorship of the Newman Government and the Attorney General Jarrod Bleijie have even started to bail on some of the idiotic decisions they have made. Maybe you should actually read the VLAD legislation before you comment any further.
The VLAD legislation basically relates to the imprisonment time. That is why an innocent Librarian was incarcerated in solitary confinement 23 hrs/day, just for wearing her partners’ leather jacket and now faces an extended term of imprisonment due to mandatory minimum sentencing period. How about family members just having a drink at their local hotel – same thing. Nothing illegal has or ever was done, but punishment was enforced. Guilty until proven innocent seems to be the LNP motto for everyone now.
The family side of this concert is very pertinent.
It has been my concern from the moment VLAD was even mentioned. (You remember VLAD, the same thing on November 25, 2009, Mr Bleijie in Parliament described the Criminal Organisation Bill as “an attack on the right of freedom of association” when the ALP tossed the idea around)??
There is absolutely no intent to protect any form of criminal activity or criminal ‘gangs’. Never has, never will be. The Police had the powers & laws in place prior to the introduction of this attack on personal lives and freedom to association.
Shame the LNP cut funding to the Police; maybe they could have done with more officers to help instead.
I am mortified by Mr Tessman’s comments in relation to the event that is being held and to state its an oxymoron based arrangement is very ill informed and a derogatory comment. I am attending the event PROUDLY with my family of young children so that they learn that in society they DO have a voice regardless of other peoples opinions and they have a right to stand up for something they believe in – whether its a minority or majority voice. I think Mr Newson has done a lot for our community and has put a huge effort into creating an event that is family orientated and i am grateful that we have someone like him in our community who is NOT afraid to speak out. Good on you Grant! you have the support of me and quite a few of my friends in the community who believe in you
You’re easily mortified if you’re mortified at that. I really don’t have an issue with criminal gangs being prevented from associating with each other. Anyway look forward to seeing how the event goes.
Grant, both you any I were at the meeting held by the Ulysses Motor Cycle Club in the beer garden of the Kingaroy Hotel attended by the Senior Detective of South Western Police district and the Superintendent of the traffic branch from Dalby who explained the laws to some 50 or so motorcycle riders. You sat up the back with your anti-VLAD law badge and a peak cap with chains hanging off. You did not say a word or ask one question of the police at the meeting. The detective was David Austin and the Superintendent was Michael Biandi. What is the purpose now to score political points? I will not be attending even though I have been a bikie since I was 14 and still am.
Correct Jack, I was there. Detective Inspector David Austin and I had prior communications before that meeting. Phone calls and emails were had, all initiated by him. I still have copies of all his information if you would like it forwarded to you.
I was only there to listen to his LNP-paid regurgitated spiel that was standard issue. He was well aware of my position and I of his. The Ulysses Club was invited, others not but still attended. That was the purpose of the meeting. I had my time at the markets.
If you believed his speech, so be it. It was not my aim on that day to protest or be vocal. If you are concerned about what clothing I was wearing (and had worn prior and since) that is a shame – also not sure on where you come up with the description of my head wear. Sorry but, don’t own any ‘peak’ caps or anything with ‘chains’ on it. I’m sure the person sitting to one side or my wife on the other side can verify that fact.
It was also the ‘Acting’ Superintendent present. Sorry you will miss a great concert and day out. Cheers.
Laws such as VLAD hark back to a time when segregation by race, religion and poverty denied people the opportunity to function nominally in colonial societies of the day. Isolating Australian citizens without the usual reasonable expectations of evidence to criminal activity should not be tolerated in modern Australia. Evidence based on association alone is not proof of wrong doing and can never be considered a convictable offense. VLAD and similar laws are a dangerous turn in Australian administration of legal equality for all its citizens. No government should have power to single out and condemn selected groups or individuals for extraordinary treatment within any legal system.
Damien, you are incorrect. This is a concern for every Queenslander and their families expecting equality under the law regardless of their social standing within society. Non-discriminatory laws are the cornerstone of well-governed societies, Queensland and the South Burnett being no exception.
I have been trying to think of any other time in history that high ranking police officers were used as PR agents for a Government trying to explain their rationale for introducing such idiotic written laws. A State-wide campaign, paid for at taxpayers expense, to read out a prepared script. Sort of makes you wonder why. Nup, I can’t recall any… anyone ??
Difference between a “bikie” and a Biker: one’s a weekend warrior, the other lives the life. Thanks, Grant, for putting this do together for our families and the public – these laws affect us all.
I agree with Wolfgangman. Grant has put his heart and soul into this event and it is wrong of anyone to think that these laws will not affect you. I myself have lived the lifestyle with my husband and will be attending to show support, not only to Grant but to the lifestyle that has been taken from all bikers and bikies. These laws are a violation of everyone’s human rights. And I will be dammed if I will sit by and watch this Government destroy our freedoms and our rights. I will be there – and Grant and Wolfgangman, you will always have my support.
This is a political event created by a multiply failed Greens Party candidate. If more than 10 people show up I will be genuinely surprised. These laws are all about drug dealers and violent criminals. The sooner people stop comparing themselves to such criminals and trying to help them, the better off the whole State will be.
This event is about the state government’s introduction of laws restricting Queenslanders basic rights to equality and natural justice under the law.To return the state to the 1980s when laws of the day attempted to stifle and restrict public rights can be seen in this legislation.The then corrupt state government attempted to criminalise all opposition to that regime sparking mass protests across the state.These laws are not in the state or its people interests in its current format.
Strange that I am considered a ‘failed’ Candidate. Gather that in every election, whether it be Council, State, Federal, Group Committee etc, there would obviously be quite a few unsuccessful candidates, can only be one elected representative.
If this was going to be called a political event, which it partially is being aimed at the dictatorship State LNP, Campbell Newman and the draconian laws introduced, it has absolutely nothing to do directly with The Greens – it is my own personal opinion and project. Has been since day one.
Also great to see that Mr Newman has been caught out yet again misleading the public with figures related to VLAD, still trying to justify spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on trying to recoup political points. All the crime stats he keeps on spruiking about on television and radio have absolutely no relevance to the impact of VLAD laws.
Quote from the Brisbane Times September 1:
“Recent decreases in crime not linked to the bikie war. Both the SMT report and the public comments by government MPs have attempted to link the bikie war to reductions in general crime categories such as unlawful entry offences, robberies, assaults and frauds.
“However, an examination of five months of police data from January 2013 to May 2013 for the Gold Coast and Logan areas reveals almost no bikie involvement in these crime categories. These figures were before the bikie crackdown, when bikie activity could be expected to show higher levels of criminality.
“Also of interest is that 60 per cent of these arrests were attributed by police to non-members – termed “associates”. Minor charges such as drug and utensil possession, breach of bail and unlicensed driving made up 42 per cent of the total charges.”
Hey J Eisenmenge, your statement sounds like sour grapes and it’s not a political event . You sound more like a political animal that lost a vote.
It’s good to have an event like this so all bikers can come together and voice their opinions. I have been a biker for 35 years. I have associated with bikers, bikies, motor scooter riders and even car clubs, but I ride with a Christian mptorcycle club and the Vietnam Veterans MC. Does this automatically associate me with drugs and criminal gangs? All you cage owners and LNP’ers buy a motorcycle, and stop being jealous of our freedom and come and enjoy life instead of bitchin’ about it all