A new report on gangs pours cold water on claims a zero tolerance approach is the best way to deal with the problem.
But National is rejecting that, pointing to Western Australia and Queensland's tough anti-gang laws as effective examples of cracking down on gangs.
The report published by the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor has warned the country cannot arrest its way out of the gang problem.
And it stresses target enforcement can make the problem worse.
It also references Australia's experience and highlights the fact that laws meant to target gangs were more often than not used to charge people with no known links to gangs.
Queensland University of Technology Associate Professor Mark Lauchs, who's researched outlaw motorcycle gangs spoke to Lisa Owen.
