ANIMAL extremists would be hit with up to 10 years in prison and $400,000 fines under new laws proposed in a private member's bill to be tabled in parliament today (Wednesday).
According to LNP Leader Deb Frecklington trespass should be upgraded to a criminal offence for farm and business invasions as it was industrial sabotage, she said.
"Farmers are the lifeblood of this country and they aren't getting the respect they deserve from Annastacia Palaszczuk, who is under hypnosis from the greens and far left.
"The LNP's three new offences will protect businesses and send a strong message to these protestors to nick off and go home."
Under the LNP proposal trespass would fall in to one of three categories: Aggravated trespass, attracting a maximum of three years imprisonment or a $13,055 fine; or serious criminal trespass or organised trespass, which would both attract up to 10 years imprisonment or a $391,650 fine.
Hefty fines and lengthy jail time are the only way to stamp out this disruptive, pre-meditated and sophisticated behavior.
- Deb Frecklington
Under current laws trespass on farmland attracts a maximum fine of $1300 or six months imprisonment.
The Palaszczuk government recently introduced $652.75 on-the-spot fines, following an outcry from rural industry after extremists invaded a feedlot at Millmerran and a meatworks near Warwick.
AgForce chief executive officer Mike Guerin said farmers were delighted by the proposed laws saying they would provide legal redress against repeat offenders.
"This is not about stopping lawful protests, this is about dealing with people who deliberately break the law and intrude on private property, putting families and their livelihoods at risk," Mr Guerin said.
Ms Frecklington said Annastacia Palaszczuk needed to support the proposed laws.
"The best Annastacia Palaszczuk can do is threaten these low-life protesters with new on-the-spot-fines," Ms Frecklington said.
"Hefty fines and lengthy jail time are the only way to stamp out this disruptive, pre-meditated and sophisticated behavior."
Ms Frecklington said mining activists would also face the same penalties.