Debate over the NSW government's controversial anti-protest laws is continuing in state parliament after hundreds of people shut down part of Sydney's CBD to rally against the "draconian" changes.
The state government wants to give police greater powers to search, seize and move on protesters under the proposed legislation.
The new laws would also increase fines for illegal entry to mining and coal seam gas sites from $550 to $5500 and could see anti-CSG protesters jailed for up to seven years.
Armed with placards which said `You gotta fight for your right to fight', about 500 farmers and protesters from environmental, anti-CSG and union groups braved the rain with Greens, Labor and Independent MPs on Tuesday to protest against the proposed changes.
"This is New South Wales, this is not Putin's Russia," Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham told the crowd, whose protest shut down Macquarie Street outside parliament on Tuesday morning.
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"We will fight these laws because the community have a right to democracy."
The Greens MP plans to vote against the laws, which he argues are a "draconian crackdown" designed to intimidate protesters and benefit the mining and gas industries.
Labor MP Ryan Park said the legislation was disgraceful.
"The minister who bought this in needs to hang their head in shame," he told NSW parliament on Tuesday.
"It's a community's right to collectively band together and protest."
No one should be able to diminish that right, he said.
But Nationals MP Kevin Anderson defended the government's intentions, saying the aim of the legislation is to stop unlawful and dangerous protesters.
"When you get people who chain themselves to dangerous pieces of equipment they are putting their lives at risk and those around them," he said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Anne Thompson from anti-coal seam gas group the Knitting Nannas said protesters would not be deterred if the changes came into effect.
"Heaven knows how we are going to pay their fines," she said.
"We are already making jailbird outfits."
