By Lucy Cormack, Sarah Keoghan and Tom Rabe
Protesters who disrupt any bridge or tunnel across Greater Sydney will face penalties of up to $22,000 or two years’ jail after climate change activists caused chaos at Port Botany for a third consecutive day.
The state government on Thursday said tougher regulations were needed to deter protesters after emergency services were forced to remove a man suspended from a pole across a container railway blocking all trains in and out of Port Botany.
In a further escalation, federal Immigration Minister Alex Hawke exercised his power to cancel the visas of two German nationals involved in the protests this week.
Mr Hawke said he had cancelled the visas of both men on “good order grounds” and said they would be removed from Australia as soon as possible.
“People have to understand we have zero tolerance for temporary visa holders committing crimes in Australia,” he said.
Acting Premier Paul Toole insisted enhanced state penalties would crack down on protesters that affected the daily lives of the community.
Acting Premier Paul Toole said “unauthorised protests have no place” in NSW.Credit: Louise Kennerley
“Groups like Blockade Australia, they have gotten a lot smarter than ever before. They’ve got legal teams that are actually doing work for them to actually work out what the penalties might be,” he said.
“We’ve had enough. We’re not going to tolerate this any longer.”
An amendment will be made immediately making it an offence to disrupt any bridge or tunnel across Sydney. The government will then bring legislation to Parliament to expand the law to include roads and industrial and transport facilities.
NSW Police will also establish a strike force dedicated to addressing the climate protesters, targeted to the Port Botany region with mounted police, dogs and aviation at its disposal.
“Strike Force Guard will ensure police are always one step ahead of the protesters to make sure we crack down on this economic vandalism,” Mr Toole said.
Attorney-General Mark Speakman said the change was needed because the current fine of $2,200 was failing to deter activists.
“That’s not enough of a deterrent to economic vandals,” Mr Speakman said. “It’s almost a small license fee to pay to cause millions of dollars of havoc so that needs to be increased.”
Roads Minister Natalie Ward said the new legislation would be brought to the parliament urgently.
Thursday’s protest, which began about 7.30am, followed two demonstrations by a man on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The German national suspended himself from a nine-metre pole across a busy intersection in Port Botany on Tuesday before climbing a pole on Sirius Bridge on Wednesday. He was arrested by police on both occasions.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter Cotter said officers were now searching for one of the German brothers charged over this week’s protest.
“His brother, who we are looking for at the moment we ask, please come forward and make it very easy for both the authorities and yourself,” Mr Cotter said.
Two women were also charged on Thursday morning as a result of the protests.
Police said officers were called to Port Botany following reports two vehicles parked on Penrhyn Road were blocking the entrance to the container terminal in both directions.
One of the protesters, a 71-year-old woman, was sitting in a truck with a bike lock secured to herself and the steering wheel. The second protester, a 57-year-old woman, was sitting on top of a second truck.
The women were arrested and charged with encouraging the carrying on operation for the commission of a crime, not obeying police directions and preventing free passage of a person, vehicle or vessel.
Both were given conditional bail to appear at Waverley Local Court on April 20.
Speaking on 2GB radio on Thursday morning, federal Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews slammed the protest group.
“Their behaviour is appalling. I encourage them to stop,” she said.
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