Plans to impose tougher penalties on protests that block trains have been branded a “rampage against free speech” by environmental campaigners.

The state government is set to introduce legislation this week that would extend laws prevent protesters from blocking roads, bridges and ports, including rail lines.

Protesters could face a maximum fine of $22,000 for the offense of obstructing a railway line.

Currently, the provisions relating to offenses under the Crimes Act 1900 do not specify a fine.

It comes after environmental activists stopped a coal train near Newcastle in September, to protest the federal government’s approval of the expansion of three coal mines in New South Wales.

In recent years, activists from Blockade Australia have regularly blocked rail lines leading to the Port of Newcastle, the world’s largest coal port.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said protesting on rail corridors was a “real problem” for the Hunter and could cause “huge damage” to the economy.

“But perhaps more importantly, our sincere fear that this could lead to someone losing their life dangling from a power line when a locomotive could pick them up and clean them up,” he said. declared.

In 2022, the state government passed legislation preventing protesters from disrupting prescribed main roads, bridges, tunnels, public transport and infrastructure.

Attorney General Michael Daley said the laws and amendments push for unacceptable behavior rather than rights.

“You can protest peacefully week after week, these laws, these amendments today do not infringe on these rights,” he said.

“What they are doing is sending a very strong signal to people who want to behave inappropriately and unacceptable that we no longer consider this behavior to be excused.

Freedom of expression

Activist group Rising Tide spokesperson Briohny Coglin said the proposed fines were not likely to deter passionate and concerned people.

“These people who are making a very difficult choice and who are so desperate that they decide to take a stand and get arrested, they already know that they are facing two years in prison,” she said.

“It will make absolutely no difference to them.

The ABC has contacted activism group Blockade Australia for comment.

In a statement, NSW Greens democracy spokesperson Kobi Shetty said the legislation was a “shameful attack on the right to protest”.

“This is a targeted attack designed to silence the voices of people concerned about the government’s woeful inaction on the climate crisis,” she said.

Ms Shetty said the government had not yet published the findings of a review of anti-protest laws and that she had introduced a bill to repeal the laws.

Demonstration and security

Stephen Galilee, CEO of the NSW Council of Ministers, welcomed the crackdown and said the increased penalties reflected the seriousness of entry into rail corridors.

“Everyone has the right to demonstrate, it is important for our democracy,” he said.

“But it must be done safely, legally and with minimal inconvenience to the rest of the community.”

He said the main impact of the protests seen recently in the Hunter has been on commuters.

“The impact on the (mining) industry is generally pretty minimal, but we want to see less danger.”