The New South Government is cracking down on protesters who disrupt traffic, after a series of climate change demonstrations shut down bridges and roads across Sydney causing significant delays.
The Roads Amendment Regulation 2022 will be made to make it an offence to disrupt any bridge or tunnel across Greater Sydney.
The regulation is made under section 144G of the Roads Act 1993, but currently only applies to disruption on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Section 144G carries a maximum penalty of 200 penalty units ($22,000) or imprisonment for two years, or both.
Deputy Premier of NSW Paul Toole said the measures are critical in deterring future protests.
"These actions are inexcusable, these actions are basically putting their thumbs up to those in NSW," Mr Toole said.
"We've had enough."
Mr Toole said two German nationals who were involved in the protests could be sent to Villawood.
Border Force is looking into their visas and there's a possibility they will be deported.
That determination is expected later today.
"There is no place for them here in this country," he said.
"Today is the first first step of cracking down.
"These protest groups have gotten much smarter than ever before - they have legal teams.
"So we are going to throw the book."
Addressing a question from a reporter about whether the penalties infringe on free speech, Mr Toole said there are other ways to protest without causing economic disruption.
"Unauthorised protests have no place in our State, and these tighter laws and tougher penalties we're introducing prove we have zero tolerance for this selfish, disruptive and unruly behaviour," he said.
This is a stance taken by NSW Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward who revealed she was caught in heavy traffic after a protest on the Spit Bridge last month.
"There is no place for protesters on our bridges and tunnels.
"You can not hold people up."
Attorney General of New South Wales Mark Speakman called the protestors "economic vandals" and said it was essential to quickly expand the existing regime.
"Following the events of recent days, I worked with Minister Ward to urgently review existing laws. We are strengthening them to deter mayhem being inflicted upon ordinary citizens," Mr Speakman said.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific have spoken out against the new laws, concerned they could stifle advocacy and protest activity.
"These sweeping new laws, rushed through in a knee-jerk response to protest activity, are the latest in a suite of increasingly draconian regulatory measures introduced in Australia to restrict climate activism," Greenpeace general counsel Katrina Bullock said.
"Climate defenders are routinely receiving disproportionate and excessive penalties and bail conditions which restrict their freedom of association and assembly."
Ms Bullock said Minister O'Toole's statement that "unauthorised protests have no place in our State" is "arguably" anti-democratic.
"Advocacy and protest are vital to ensuring that the best interests of people, the planet and future generations guide our governments' responses, not the vested interests of the fossil fuel industry," she said.
Crackdown comes after another protest today
About 7.30am today, police were called to a railway corridor in Pagewood in the city's south.
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A group of people had gathered, including one man who had suspended himself from a pole, blocking trains on the freight line.
Police have urged people to avoid the area. No passenger trains were affected.
9News understands the man is a climate change protester.
It follows similar unauthorised protests in Sydney in recent days.
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2022-03-24 00:13:01Z
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