State Government hand police new powers in protester crackdown

With the State Government announcing tough new laws targeting protesters who block traffic and trespass on farms, police have released footage of activists endangering themselves and others with so-called “dangerous devices”.

GREENS warriors could be thrown in jail for supergluing themselves to roads under a major crackdown on “extremist” behaviour.

The State Government will introduce legislation targeting activists who use “dangerous” devices following recent protests that wreaked havoc on traffic in Brisbane.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday slammed protesters for using steel cylinders and drums filled with concrete, with glass fragments and butane gas containers found inside some of the “locking devices”.

Protesters have forced closure of all lanes of traffic on William Jolly Bridge

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Assistant Police Commissioner for the Brisbane region Peter Crawford left the door open to superglue being included as a device, saying consultation was needed to determine what objects would be included under the legislation.

“The time taken to remove these types of devices (steel cylinders, etc) from critical infrastructure and from the roadway and other areas is significant and disruption is what these protesters are achieving,” he said.

“Anytime you need to remove this type of equipment from railways and other places, it’s always a safety issue for both police and the person to whom the device is attached.”

Under the proposal, anyone found using the devices could be thrown in jail for two years.

Someone found to be in possession of a device could also face a year behind bars.

Police have released video showing several protests where activists used steel cylinder locking devices to attach themselves to train tracks, coal trains and each other.

In some cases, protesters had to be cut free by police using angle grinders.

Protesters who trespass on farms will now also face up to one year imprisonment, making the punishment equal to the unlawful entry of a dwelling.

The Government already introduced on-the-spot fines under the Biosecurity Act earlier this year for animal activists following protests on farms.

Extinction Rebellion SEQ protests have seen protesters glue themselves to streets in Brisbane this year.

However a spokesman for the group said there was no evidence of booby trapping lock on devices and to do so went against the group’s principles and strategy of nonviolence.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said the actions that had taken place were not protests.

“We’re gong to go through a process where we get the definition (of a device) right because we do have to make sure that the law is considered in this respect to ensure that any emerging tactics which are used by these extremists are also caught,” he said.

Under the laws, to be introduced by the end of the year, police will also have the power to search anyone and their cars that they suspect of possessing a device.

Greens MP Michael Berkman said Labor had joined the LNP’s attempts to return Queensland to a “police state reminiscent of the Bjelke-Peterson days”.