Queensland's bikie laws face challenge in High Court TOUGH new bikie laws are set to be challenged in the High Court of Australia by a team of Queensland criminal law specialists. The Newman Government's bikie laws - rushed through Parliament in October and criticised by retired judges - are facing their biggest judicial test. Five lawyers and barristers have met and begun ``strategising" about which defendant they will use to best argue the Government's Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment laws breach the constitution. The case will be decided on in the next few weeks, but the challenge will be done as a matter of urgency and will bypass Queensland's Supreme Court. The High Court challenge, if granted, will have national consequences. Taxpayers in every state and territory, plus federally, will be slugged with a mammoth bill because every Attorney-General in the country are expected to be heard on the matter. Bill Potts is among the lawyers involved in the High Court challenge and it is expected that one of the best constitutional lawyers in the country, NSW-based Bret Walker, SC, will be involved. Mr Walker did not return calls yesterday. Mr Potts said there were serious concerns about the laws, which could be applied broadly, including unions and peaceful protesters. He said the laws would be not be challenged on the basis of mandatory sentences but on the right to associate. Also, no judicial oversight is contained in the legislation. He said the laws were so stringent that if an office bearer of a bikie club on his way to associate with two other remembers was caught with a marijuana joint, he would be given a sentence the equivalent of murder. ``History teaches us that if you have the power you will use it," Mr Potts said. ``If they don't (intend to use them so broadly) why don't they change the legislation. ``Ultimately, the High Court is the final bulwark of freedom in this country. ``While I do not doubt the State Government can pass any law it wishes in accordance to its political agenda, ultimately Australia is a federation of states. The Queensland Police Service revealed on Friday that they had charged 21 Rebels gang members with 35 charges, including possession of dangerous drugs, burglary, assault, and weapons offences It comes as The Sunday Mail learned that police have considered not pursing the expensive action taken to declare the Finks a criminal organisation under the Bligh government's Criminal Organisation Act. It is understood police believe the application is no longer needed because of the Government's new laws, but will keep them in their back pocket until any challenge to the legitimacy of the new laws had been exhausted. The Finks matter, which was to be set down this month, has been adjourned to February. A QPS spokesman said it had not received any instructions that it could be discontinued. ``At this stage the matter remains on foot, and is listed for further review on 12 February 2014," he said. Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie would not comment on the Finks case. ``Our new legislation works faster and more effectively than the Criminal Organisation Act. ``The problem with Labor's legislation is the length of time it takes to have a gang declared a criminal organisation. ``Their Act was passed four years ago and there's been only one application which is still going through the courts. ``In that time, criminal motorcycle gangs were allowed to flourish and that's why we had to take such strong, swift action.