Greens MP Jenny Leong said she is “f***ing outraged” at a bill which will execute the Liberal government’s promise to crackdown on disruptive protesters.
The bill, which passed through the Lower House of parliament on Wednesday afternoon, was swiftly called into question by unions concerned over its potential implications on industrial action.
It first came to fruition after protesters representing climate action group Blockade Australia pulled off a series of dangerous physical stunts in Sydney over the last two weeks.
At least five people were arrested across nine protest actions which took place over the course of five days, targeting vital infrastructure at Sydney’s rail and shipping hubs.
One protester, identified as Max, received a four-month jail sentence for abseiling a crane and stalling unloading ships at the major transport hub.
The government already expanded existing legislation related to the Sydney Harbour Bridge to make it an offence to disrupt any bridge or tunnel across the city.
Attorney-General Mark Speakman introduced the legislation to parliament on Wednesday afternoon to increase penalties for people who cause “damage or disruption” on transport assets including roads and train stations.
The bill will enact consequences for a range of actions including anyone who “enters, remains on, climbs, jumps from or otherwise trespasses” major roads in the state and “seriously disrupts or obstructs vehicles of pedestrians”.
A fine of up to $22,000 and up to two years’ jail time would become the maximum sentence for the offence, which also includes blocking entry to any part of a major facility such as Port Botany or public transport assets such as train stations.
Ms Leong took to Twitter to exclaim her anger at the bill, which she claimed the government was, “planning to ram through to criminalise protest”.
She suggested there was no briefing, zero consultation and “complete disregard for due process”.
Greens Member for Balmain Jamie Parker said “the government did nothing when there were thousands of right-wing anti-lockdown protesters blocking the streets during lockdown”.
“It’s only when climate activists take action that the government says we need draconian laws to stop them.”
xjmtzywThe Greens put forward a number of amendments to the bill in an attempt to obstruct its passage on Wednesday night.
Unions NSW secretary Mark Morey responded to the drafted bill saying, “Any nurse, paramedic or truck driver who sits down on Macquarie St to campaign for their rights at work faces two years of jail.
“That is unacceptable. Parliament needs to pause and reconsider the laws.”
The bill does not explicitly mention protest activity, though a briefing handed out to MPs in parliament said the penalties will apply to people who “participate in illegal protests”.
The Labor Party has come out in support of the bill, provided amendments are made to ensure industrial action is protected.
Blockade Australia’s main spokesperson, Clancey Maher, responded to the government’s protest crackdown, saying “they are all designed as deterrents and what I can say is none of them are working”.
The climate action group has made known its plans to continue protest action through to June.
NSW Acting Premier Paul Toole called for the deportation of two German brothers responsible for two successive days of protest action at Port Botany.
“If he can’t abide by our laws, he can go back to Germany because he isn’t wanted here,” Mr Toole said in a statement.
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke successfully cancelled the siblings’ temporary working visas under “good order” grounds.
The 21-year-old brother is currently being detained at Villawood Detention Centre until his next court date in May.
