#NSW parliament passes new laws bringing harsher penalties on #protesters

By Heath Parkes-Hupton
Posted Fri 1 Apr 2022

"The NSW Parliament has passed tough new punishments for protesters the state government says wish to wreak 'economic chaos' on #SydneyAustralia.

"Under legislation that cleared both houses today, people could be fined up to $22,000 and/or jailed for a maximum of two years for #protesting illegally on #PublicRoads, #rail lines, #tunnels, #bridges and #industrial #estates.

"The new offence applies to #ports in #Newcastle, #PortKembla and #PortBotany, but the government says it intends to add more facilities.

"Attorney-General Mark Speakman said the laws applied to activities that 'shut down major economic activity'.

"It comes after a string of demonstrations by #ClimateActivists last month disrupted operations around Sydney's Port Botany, the largest container hub in NSW.

"Members of #BlockadeAustralia staged protests on bridges, roads, freight rail lines and a crane to call for greater action on #ClimateChange.

"This morning, four people were arrested after blocking peak-hour traffic on the Princes Highway in Sylvania.

"#FireproofAustralia has claimed responsibility for that incident, which saw traffic blocked by people holding banners across the road."

Read more:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-01/nsw-new-protest-laws-target-major-economic-disruption/100960746

#Australia #Fascism #ClimateAction #ClimateActivism #CriminalizingDissent