Labor MPs furious at leader Chris Minns’ support of anti-protest bill

Angry Labor MPs have ­accused leader Chris Minns of steamrolling the party into urgently supporting a crackdown on protests before it was considered by caucus.

Angry Labor MPs have ­accused leader Chris Minns of steamrolling the party into urgently supporting a crackdown on protests that cause mayhem on our roads.

Mr Minns on Thursday reiterated Labor’s support for the legislation which passed in the lower house the day before, blasting the Greens and independent Alex Greenwich for backing “renegade guerrilla protesters” over motorists.

The Opposition voted with the government to pass the bill, but multiple Labor MPs have criticised their leader for publicly dec­laring support for the protest crackdown before it was considered by caucus.

Labor’s frontbench had earlier resolved to support the bill despite some concerns being raised in shadow cabinet.

The party on Thursday sought amendments in the upper house to exempt industrial action from the new laws.

Opposition Leader Chris Minns pledged Labor’s support for the tougher penalties. Picture: Tim Hunter

An urgent caucus meeting on Wednesday afternoon endorsed the leadership team’s approach, despite a handful of backbenchers speaking out.

The new laws, revealed last week by The Daily Telegraph, would impose a maximum penalty of two years’ jail time, a $22,000 fine, or both for protesters who disrupt roads — like Blockade Australia ­activists who shut down Port Botany last week.

Mr Minns pledged Labor’s support for the tougher penalties the day it was revealed by The Daily Telegraph.

Labor backbenchers critical of the captain’s call said the legislation should have been considered by caucus before the vote in the house.

However, the party was ­unable to debate the legislation because of the speed at which the government introduced it to the house. Mr Minns said it was regrettable the bill didn’t go through caucus to be rubber stamped.

Three Greens MPs and Sydney MP Mr Greenwich, voted against the bill.

A protester is arrested after suspending himself on rail lines. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Mr Minns said Mr Greenwich and the Greens should think about those who have been disrupted by activists shutting down roads.

“I asked those members to think about, for example, a pregnant person trying to get to a hospital who’s unable to do that because two-thirds of the city has been locked down,” he said. “Think about accidents. Think about first responders. Think about the gridlock that affects the city.”

Roads Minister Natalie Ward said the government made “no apologies” for holding protesters to account.

“Like everyone else, I am sick and tired of these selfish disruptions which hold the rest of us to ransom,” she said.

“These protesters deserve to have the book thrown at them.”