Australian state unveils tough anti-bike gang laws

New South Wales state Premier Nathan Rees said the laws were a "proportionate response" to escalating violence between motorcycle gangs, including the beating to death of one "bikie"

and the near-fatal shooting of another.

"Ten days ago bikie gangs crossed the line," Rees said of a deadly attack at Sydney Airport last week in which members of the Hells Angels and Comancheros gangs brawled in front of terrified passengers at the country's biggest airport.

One man was killed in the attack, beaten to death by up to 15 other men wielding metal bollards used to separate passengers in the airport flight check-in area. Police have charged five bikies over the deadly 15-minute brawl.

The bikie wars, fought largely over control of the illegal drug trade, have shocked Australians, with one senior gang member shot and seriously wounded while parking his car.

Flamboyant Comancheros boss Mahmoud "Mick" Hawi was said by newspapers Thursday to be in hiding in fear of reprisal attacks, with a A$100,000 (48,000 pounds) bounty on his head.

The new laws allow police to seek a court order to make membership of a listed bikie gang illegal. Gang members who continue to gather could face two to five years in jail.

Authorities will also be able to seize bikie assets and search homes, sparking criticism from civil rights groups that the laws are too draconian.

The laws are modelled on bans in place in South Australia state, where bike gangs have been blamed for murder, drug trafficking, prostitution and weapons smuggling.

Police have been empowered to dismantle gang headquarters and force members to account for any unexplained wealth or income, but lawyers are challenging the laws in Australia's high court.

(Reporting by Rob Taylor)