The Gold Coast mayor should ban tattoo parlours in a bid to run outlaw motorcycle gangs out of the area, a local lawyer says.
Bruce Simmonds says the Gold Coast City Council should use its powers to enact bylaws to stop "undesirable elements" from using local properties to operate businesses.
The Newman government is drafting tough new laws aimed at outlaw bikie gangs after Friday's violent, public brawl involving gang members at Broadbeach.
The new laws will include bans on gatherings at certain sites, mandatory sentences and banning the display of club colours in licensed venues.
But Mr Simmonds says Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate can also play a part by restricting trading practices commonly associated with motorcycle gangs.
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"Tom Tate might want to consider controlling the locations of night clubs, sex shops and tattoo parlours, which is something his council could do," Mr Simmonds said in a statement on Tuesday.
"Even better, impose tough restrictions on where these operations can be located and even banish them from the city."
Mr Simmonds said such measures would help make the Gold Coast an unattractive and unprofitable location for criminal elements.
"Use those powers against criminal elements, enact bylaws to drive them away and enact new bylaws that forbid the use of buildings in the city for gang headquarters purposes," he said.
