LETTER TO THE EDITOR

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
THE HERALD SUN

Urban  expert  Dr Healy told lobby group Victoria First that Melbourne
was  headed for "CARmageddon". (Herald Sun 01/02/2014) He said that by
2031 the number of cars on  our  already clogged  roads  would rise 46
per cent. He said better public transport wouldn't help.

Dr   Healy  must  assume that car ownership and usage will continue as
they  are  and  that  there  are  no  legitimate  alternatives  to car
ownership.

Single-occupant  cars  make  up  75  per cent of vehicles clogging our
roads,   many  on  unnecessary  trips.  To keep Melbourne liveable, of
course  we need more  public  transport but we also need to discourage
single-occupant  car  use  and  encourage  other  forms  of  transport
including motorcycles & scooters.

One  way  to  encourage  more  efficient  road  use  is  to reform the
Transport Accident Commission.

TAC     compulsory     third     party    premiums   reflect   neither
environmentally-friendly  vehicles  nor  safe  use. Drivers should pay
less  for  vehicles  that  pollute  less and do less road damage. Safe
drivers should pay lower premiums for not causing claims.

Damien Codognotto
Independent Riders' Group
Melbourne

ANTI-ASSOCIATION LAWS

MEDIA RELEASE

ANTI-ASSOCIATION LAWS NOT WELCOME IN VICTORIA

Tuesday, February 4 is the first sitting day of the Victorian Parliament for 2014.

Attorney General Robert Clark plans to push through changes to the Summary Offences
and Sentencing Bill 2013 that will unfairly limit the ability of lobby groups and
unions to assemble and protest in public.

http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/static/www.legislation.vic.gov.au-bills.html

The Independent Riders' Group strongly opposes these kinds of laws because they are
undemocratic and un-Australian. The IRG has urged its' members make an appointment to
see their MPs and make it clear that these laws are not acceptable in a free society.

IRG Spokesman, Damien Codognotto OAM, said.

"Anti-association laws have already done enormous damage to the Australian way of life
in Queensland.  We don't want them here. Many people who would travel to Queensland for
business or pleasure won't for fear of unfair arrest for talking to someone or wearing
the wrong t-shirt."

Changes to the Summary Offences and Sentencing Bill appear to be aimed at minority
groups like bikies or the tunnel protestors but they will effect the society as a whole
and are opened to massive abuse.

"Increase police numbers, enforce existing laws, but do not turn Victoria into a police
state with these dangerous changes to our laws." Codognotto said.

Robert Clark admitted his amendments would "impose a limitation on an individual's right
to move freely within Victoria ... and may, in certain circumstances, limit the rights to
freedom of expression (section15), and peaceful assembly and freedom of association
(section16)." - Source NEWMATILDA.COM.

http://www.newmatilda.com/2014/01/21/victorian-laws-threaten-protest-rights

The IRG will have observers at Parliament House in Melbourne on Tuesday, February 4, 2014.

CONTACT:  Damien Codognotto OAM
          Spokesman
          Independent Riders' Group

          Mobile 0419 846 855

TOY RUN ON YOU TUBE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7NcN59qKUw

BATHURST!

Media and Rider Alert

This Saturday (Feb 1) in Bathurst motorcyclists from around the state will gather in Russell Street

for the annual Bathurst Street and Custom Motorcycle Show.

This annual event last year attract 140 motorcycles for the two competitions plus several thousand

local residents.

This year the show will be opened by Mayor Gary Rush who will arrive on a mate's Harley Davidson around 11am.

Other highlights this year:

• Free entry for the general public
• The Shannons Big Rig which includes their famous Go-Go Mobile , free driving simulators for kids and will serve as the motorcycle competition registration area
• Free kids jumping castle
• Special displays from Bathurst's Beard Brother Motorcycles and Capital Harley Davidson in Orange
• Special interview with Tony O'Donnell, Chairman of the Australian Confederation of Motor Clubs about the future of custom motorcycling.
• Temporary Australians Motorcycle TV Show, motorcycle clothing and accessories displays
• Sausage Sizzle and soft drinks on sale by the 3rd Bathurst (All Saints Cathedral) Scout Group
• Special thanks to volunteers from Bikers Australia and Brotherhood CMC and sponsors Shannons Insurance, Beard Brothers Motorcycles, Capital Harley Davidson, Brotherhood CMC, Live to Ride Magazine, 2bs Radio, B Rock Radio and Bathurst Regional Council.

Attached is the General Event Press Release.

For more information call Greg Hirst on 0414 798 440.

ANTI-BIKIE LAWS

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/snake-found-in-arrest-of-dayboro-three-20140124-31dc0.html

The Victorian Parliament will vote on a law that will make it difficult, if not impossible for some, maybe all groups, to gather in public to protest against bad laws, taxes and or projects.

The bill will go to the Victorian Parliament on Tuesday, February 4, 2014.

We urge Victorians to sit in the public gallery of state parliament in a silent, law-abiding protest against this undemocratic, un-Australian legislation. You can get information on the proposed law and when it will be tabled at:

http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/static/www.legislation.vic.gov.au-bills.html

Start with the Summary Offences and Sentencing Amendment Bill.

Before February 4 we need to let as many MPs as possible know that this is an election year and we do not want anti-association/VLAD type laws in Victoria. The Victorian Government has betrayed this state's 326,000 bike licence holders by refusing to abolish the TAC tax, do not be fooled into thinking it will hesitate to use the anti-association laws against the motorcycle & scooter community, their family, their friends and their workmates.

More information on the TAC tax betrayal elsewhere on this blog.

Go see you MP. If you can't get an appointment to see him/her before February 4, tell the MPs staff what you think. Encourage others to do likewise.

Two or three votes in parliament mean the difference between this law passing or failing.

A few thousand votes in marginal electorates in the November election mean the Victorian Government staying in power or being put out.

It's up to you and your family and friends. Go see your MP.

www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members

FREE OZ PARTY

FATHER BOB DOCO.

http://goo.gl/XjKnVc

Thursday, January 23, 7:00 PM

George Revival Cinema
St KIlda, Melbourne, Victoria, Austalia.

"In Bob We Trust" - Documentary Film
This will be a special one-off screening of this documentary film.

The screening will be introduced by Father Bob with all money raised
going to the Father Bob Maguire Foundation.

Regards
Trish

91 Victoria Ave
Albert Park Vic, 3206
T: (03) 9681 3255
www.fatherbobsfoundation.com.au


"In Bob We Trust" is also being shown this weekend at 
Swanpool Cinema 

http://swanpoolcinema.com.au/ 

This weekend as follows:

Friday 24 January 7.30 pm (followed by "Once My Mother")


Saturday 25 January 7.30 pm (followed by "Once My Mother")
In Bob We Trust Matinee screens 2.00 pm Saturday


Sunday 26 January 6.00 pm (followed by "Once My Mother")

VIC TO END PROTEST RIGHTS?

This link was shared to the fb page:

http://www.newmatilda.com//2014/01/21/victorian-laws-threaten-protest-rights

Early in 2014 the Napthine Government in Victoria aims to pass draconian laws that will make it almost impossible for community groups, and others, to assemble in public. That's why the Australia Day protests this Sunday are so important. If you want to "assemble" where you want, with who you want, head for a parliament house near you. Details elsewhere on this blog and on the IRG facebook pages.

The Victorian Attorney General, Liberal MP Robert Clark will put the first of the Queensland-type anti-association laws to parliament on Tuesday, February 4. I plan to be in the public gallery and I invite anyone who can, to be there too. Details of times etc. are on:

www.parliament.vic.gov.au

January 21, 2014.

These laws could make it very hard to organise big rides like TOY RUNs if someone in your local police or in government did not like the organisers. Prejudice & discrimination have always been with us but now it is aimed directly at us.

Go to a parliament house near you this Australia Day and protest against police-state laws.

Soon you may not be allowed to.

Damien
IRG

January 22, 2014.

Right to assemble?! You won't have the "right" to inhale without a written permit the way things are going. Then you'll have to hold your breath while the cops drive past.

Remember these bikies laws are NOT bikie laws. As Boris points out the legislation does not even mention motorcycles/ motorcyclists, bikes/ Bikies. It is very UNSPECIFIC and AMBIGUOUS so it can cast a very wide net over whomever the police choose.

At this juncture VLAD laws are being sold to the public as affecting filthy, criminal 1%er gangs so the changes will be accepted and subsequently entrenched into the daily life of Australians.

If they were accurately perceived as "anti-whatever-we-feel-like" laws then there might be a murmur of resistance (not rebellion, most Australians being the apathetic dicks they are).

No matter whom the laws are aimed at (exclusively for now) the whole thing is moot as we already have laws against rape, drug dealing, drug manufacturing, drug cultivation, drug possession, assault and affray, battery, and everything else between mass murder and grotting on the footpath. The public (if only they were capable of intelligent deductions from clear evidence) ought be asking why "these people" (or anyone else) are not being prosecuted under existing laws.

Interestingly, in Singapore (which I think Newman wants to model his Queensland on) citizens must apply for a permit to gather. This definitely applies to protests. The police will 'get back to you'. If and when they do, what you say and do at your regulated  protest is closely monitored and authorities will stand by to squash it at a moment's notice should you been seen as creating dissent.

If this label is applied to you, you are really in the shit! Deep!!!

In the event that your gathering should proceed and your day of demonstration/whatever comes and goes, detailed records will be kept and the authorities will have the power to charge you retrospectively for being a troublemaker, an enemy of the state as it were!

Please make the distinction between POWER and RIGHT. I believe everyone has the RIGHT to demonstrate and state their point and air their grievances. This sort of oppression affects their POWER to do so.

If it were only the case of Queensland and its "White Sadam", Campbell Newman exercising his insanity, that would be one thing, but the sad fact is that police top brass all over the country have been baying for these laws (and the extra power their henchmen will get as a result) to be authorised in their respective states. I would reserve some respect for any police comish outside of Queensland who publically denounced the law as UnAustralian and stated that he did NOT want such shit in his state.

This is why I pounced on the opportunity to write an open letter to Scipione (NSW Police Minister) about the headline story that 1 in 40 police have crim records.

Another distinction is LAW vs PENALTY. Drug distribution, for example, is illegal (unless you are Bayer, Hoechst, Pfizer et al and lobby the government). The penalty for this is X.
Why is it then acceptable for certain groups to be liable for a penalty of Y for these offences?

And if this is the case, surely police, noble and trusted public servants, should be liable for a penalty of Z for their similar offences!

Perhaps next time I am charged with bashing someone with a few of my mates for saturday night sport, I can claim "stress'' because "my job is so stressful". Or does this only work if your gang colour is blue?

Speaking of which, perhaps I should see the writing on the proverbial and invest in grey or beige clothes and practice meditating while I chant the name of our Fuehrer.

Lindsay