ANY protesters locking themselves to equipment at a CSG site could face a maximum jail sentence of seven years – the same as those found guilty of aiding a criminal’s escape, receiving a corrupt benefit or aggravated indecent assault.
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The bill would amend the state’s Crimes Act to extend the crime of “interfering with a mine site” to include CSG extraction and exploration sites, instead of an existing focus on coal mines.
The Greens say the original offence was created to quell the threat of industrial sabotage in protests by coal miners in the 1980s and should not be applied to environmental protest.
Energy Minister Anthony Roberts’ office argues the law simply modernises an old definition of a mine site and that criminal penalties remain unchanged.
Shooters and Fishers MLC Robert Brown said the community would “never see the maximum” sentence applied.
“Seven is a bit of a reach, but look at the current situation – there isn’t a magistrate on earth that would jail a protester for seven years.”
