BN- A NURSE who has two degrees and is entrusted with the lives of critically injured patients every day faces losing her $100,000 invest...
BN- A NURSE who has two degrees and is entrusted with the lives of critically injured patients every day faces losing her $100,000 investment business because her husband is a bikie.
The woman contacted The Advertiser on Thursday, outraged by a proposed law that bans the families of outlaws from owning tattoo parlours, and imposes a maximum four-year prison term.
Asking she not be named until she has received legal advice, the woman said the law was discriminatory and persecuted her based on the person she loves.
“If lawmakers said you couldn’t own a business because you’re gay, or your husband is black, people would lose their minds,” she said.
“I have done my work, I have studied for my degrees and bought a shop in my own name ... how can the government say I’m not ‘a fit and proper person’ because of who I love?
“I have the right to be judged as the person I am, not as ‘just a bikie wife’.”
On Thursday, The Advertiser revealed Attorney-General John Rau would introduce the legislation into State Parliament following an election campaign pledge.
The proposed ban resembles Queensland laws and follows the July introduction of SA’s new anti-association laws that outlawed 10 groups.
It “automatically and permanently” disqualifies spouses, domestic partners, parents, brothers, sisters, children of housemates of bikies from owning parlours.
The nurse is not alone in her predicament — The Advertiser understands another parlour is owned by a 20-year veteran of the public service.
That person has undergone police background checks as part of their employment.
On Thursday, the nurse said she took three months’ leave from her work as a critical care nurse in a CBD hospital to establish the shop, which employs 12 people.
It is one of several investment businesses she has run, independent of her husband, during their 15-year marriage.
She said her husband played no role in her business and agreed parlours should not be used as fronts for criminal activity.
However, she said parlour owners should be scrutinised on a case-by-case basis, not subject to blanket bans because of their families.
“I was educated in a Catholic school, I have two degrees, my father worked in Corrections and my uncle was a police officer,” she said.
“You can’t categorise people like this ... I refuse to be categorised with all other nurses, as there are good and bad ones — just like there are good and bad parlour owners.
“I don’t know who the criminals are (in parlour ownership) but I know who I am and I find it offensive to be put in the same category ... I refuse to be taken down by this.”
Barrister David Edwardson, QC, said the nurse’s situation was “one of what will be many examples of the absurdity of this legislation”.
Attorney-General John Rau said the law was designed to stop parlours being used as fronts, and owners could apply for exemptions “if they are in fact” not close associates of bikies.
“It is worth remembering that this legislation only impacts on serious criminals and members of declared criminal organisations and their associates,” he said.
More: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/sa-law-banning-bikie-relatives-from-owning-tattoo-shops-is-discrimination-nurse-and-parlour-owner-says/story-fni6uo1m-1227521865244?sv=2052f08f08dece85daa3f8143745b528
