Lawyer sues Queensland Premier and A-G over bikie comments

A Queensland lawyer who represents outlaw motorcycle gang members is seeking more than $1 million in damages from the state's Premier and Attorney-General in a defamation suit.

Court documents obtained by the ABC reveal Gold Coast solicitor Chris Hannay is suing Campbell Newman and Jarrod Bleijie over claims that bikie lawyers were part of a "criminal gang machine" and would do anything to defend their clients.

In the February remarks, which drew criticism from the state's Bar Association, Mr Newman told reporters that lawyers who defended bikies were hired guns who took money from people who sold drugs to teenagers.

Mr Hannay is seeking $500,000 in general damages from each defendant.

He is also seeking a further $100,000 from each for the alleged "malice of the defendants in publishing words they knew to be untrue, motivated by a wish to make political capital out of an attack on lawyers".

more: Lawyer sues Queensland Premier and A-G over bikie comments

A Queensland lawyer who represents outlaw motorcycle gang members is seeking more than $1 million in damages from the state's Premier and Attorney-General in a defamation suit.

Court documents obtained by the ABC reveal Gold Coast solicitor Chris Hannay is suing Campbell Newman and Jarrod Bleijie over claims that bikie lawyers were part of a "criminal gang machine" and would do anything to defend their clients.

In the February remarks, which drew criticism from the state's Bar Association, Mr Newman told reporters that lawyers who defended bikies were hired guns who took money from people who sold drugs to teenagers.

Mr Hannay is seeking $500,000 in general damages from each defendant.

He is also seeking a further $100,000 from each for the alleged "malice of the defendants in publishing words they knew to be untrue, motivated by a wish to make political capital out of an attack on lawyers".