Electrical Trade Union calls cavalry in fight against laws The Electrical Trades Union has called a meeting with key union officials seeking support for its upcoming High Court challenge to the government's anti-association laws, which it argues could impact every licensed worker. ETU State Secretary Peter Simpson said the union had received legal advice warning the legislation - which will see electrical workers and plumbers with bikie gang links possibly lose their work license or not have it renewed - could affect all licensed workers come July. Amendments to various acts, including the Electrical Safety Act, passed as part of the Criminal Organisations Disruption legislation put through parliament late last year, includes a provision that anyone who has declared their membership to a proscribed club, through words or action, sought to have been a member, or attended one or more meetings or gatherings of people who are members or associates, could be considered an associate to a proscribed gang and therefore in danger of losing their work license. Mr Simpson said the ETU was putting the call out to "get a few more unions on board for the High Court challenge against these ridiculous laws." "They are coming after licensed trades first, electrical and plumbing, but it could apply to a whole range of workers, to anyone who needs to be registered or licensed to be able to work," he said. That is the advice we have been given. So we are having our first talk outside the union and hoping to get a few affiliates on board. Obviously it would be more cost effective to be joined by the other unions. A High Court challenge can cost anywhere between $200,000 and $500,000. Which is frustrating in itself, because it is money we shouldn't have to spend, protecting things we shouldn't have to defend. So we'd like to see if some of the other unions will come on board. But if we have to go it alone, we will. This latest planned High Court challenge would be the union's third against this government; it is already fighting the union transparency laws and changes to fair work legislation. The government has repeatedly said the changes to the legislation were about keeping criminal motorcycle gang members out of people's homes. "Until our changes, criminal motorcycle gang members could work in our homes, change our locks and guard our homes and business," acting Attorney-General David Crisafulli said on January 10. Since returning from holidays, Premier Campbell Newman has repeated the line he first began using in November, when the laws were passed. "The industries which have been identified are ones that the Queensland police and the CMC have indicated are the subjects of money laundering by bikie gangs," he said in November. But more importantly for members of the Queensland public, do you want a locksmith working at your place or your business that is owned by a criminal bikie gang? Do you want your children going to a nightclub where the staff on the door are employed by a criminal gang? If you are a motorist involved in a traffic accident or your car is towed ... do you want your car in the hands of a criminal gang? I think these are real issues for Queensland that we will address. Last week Mr Newman reiterated that the laws would be reviewed in 2016, as was written into the legislation.