--- title: NSW protest laws an anti-democratic escalation of activist suppression description: New laws rushed through by the NSW Government that would see protestors who disrupt traffic in Greater Sydney face fines of up to $22,000 and up to two years in jail have been called out as a knee-jerk and anti-democratic move that continues the concerning trend of activist suppression. --- [![Greenpeace](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/hs-fs/hubfs/GPAP-Master-Logo-Green-RGB_Web-1.png?width=2259&height=348&name=GPAP-Master-Logo-Green-RGB_Web-1.png "Greenpeace")](https://www.greenpeace.org.au) [![Canopy Logo](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/hubfs/raw_assets/public/gpap-main-theme/images/the-canopy/the-canopy-logo.png)](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy) The Canopy is a weekday morning email newsletter provided by the team at Greenpeace Australia Pacific. # NSW protest laws an anti-democratic escalation of activist suppression Friday, 25 March 2022 New laws rushed through by the NSW Government that would see protestors who disrupt traffic in Greater Sydney face fines of up to $22,000 and up to two years in jail have been called out as a knee-jerk and anti-democratic move that continues the concerning trend of activist suppression.  A floating gas terminal proposed for Corio Bay would threaten Geelong’s net zero by 2035 target and be a “persistent” source of emissions, according to a new environmental report. And Australian school students will join a global day of climate action today, calling on the federal government to care about their futures and divert funding away from coal and gas projects, and towards clean, renewable energy.  [Activists slam new anti-protest laws as ‘knee-jerk’ after three days of protests](https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/who-is-behind-the-port-botany-protest-and-what-do-they-want-20220323-p5a7c0.html) Activist groups have hit back at the state government’s new anti-protest laws saying they are anti-democratic and a knee-jerk reaction. [Viva Energy’s gas terminal plan puts 2035 emission targets ‘in jeopardy’, report says](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heraldsun.com.au%2Fnews%2Fgeelong%2Fviva-energys-gas-terminal-plan-puts-2035-emission-targets-in-jeopardy-report-says%2Fnews-story%2Fb1790ebb11733e2cea0782e8c6387bc4&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=sSOunP_PeFGvVUfHkradYj5fBco&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5oZXJhbGRzdW4uY29tLmF1In0.tyvzxwnT4YHYtOKwk-QXfhLIB-5fakWVeDsIsFbN-UKoLJR_SD3ZgVClMjrILbZY1pK5qxxShDGuqS6LG4A-kA) A proposed $250m gas terminal in Corio Bay, Geelong poses a “significant and persistent” source of emissions, according to a new environmental report. [School kids climate strike targets PM](https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7672846/school-kids-climate-strike-targets-pm/?cs=14264) Friday's School Strike 4 Climate will demand the federal government divert funding away from coal and gas projects and to clean, renewable energy, providing secure jobs and First Nations solutions. [Rooftop solar sets the nation’s renewables record in limelight](https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/rooftop-solar-sets-the-nation-s-renewables-record-in-limelight-20220317-p5a5ls) Australia is setting renewable energy records, with 2021 the fifth record-breaking year in a row for rooftop solar as Australians installed more than 380,000 new systems.  [Eden scoped for $10 billion floating offshore windfarm](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-24/south-east-renewable-projects-on-the-horizon/100931858) Already home to one of Australia's largest renewables projects, the Snowy Mountains Scheme, the South East of New South Wales is expected to see an influx of more green energy projects over the next two decades. [gas](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/gas), [energy policy](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/energy-policy), [climate change](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/climate-change), [Federal Election](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/federal-election) ### Will you share with your friends? 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