Higher Penalties for Obstructing a Railway
Crimes Amendment (Obstructing a Railway) Bill 2024
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Introduced by: Michael Daley MP (ALP); The Hon Daniel Mookhey MLC (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Susan Carter LIB
“I speak on behalf of the Opposition in debate on the Crimes Amendment (Obstructing a Railway) Bill 2024. It is interesting to note that the name of the bill is almost as long as the bill itself, standing as it does at a brief 18 lines, a quarter of which are the Government’s own amendments, passed in the other place.”
Sue Higginson GRN
“On behalf of The Greens I contribute to debate on the Crimes Amendment (Obstructing a Railway) Bill 2024, which we absolutely cannot support. I acknowledge the contributions of my colleagues in the other place on the bill, which represents a deja vu moment for this Parliament.”
Rod Roberts IND
“I make a short contribution to debate on the Crimes Amendment (Obstructing a Railway) Bill 2024. I will tone down the rhetoric just a bit. At the outset, I indicate that I will support the bill and I commend the Government for closing a legal loophole by ensuring that section 213 now has a prescribed financial penalty.”
Abigail Boyd GRN
“I make a brief contribution to debate on the Crimes Amendment (Obstructing a Railway) Bill 2024. It feels very much like groundhog day. Firstly, I thank and congratulate my colleague Ms Sue Higginson for her continued tenacity on this topic. I also acknowledge the efforts of all of my Greens colleagues in both Houses who have worked on this issue for decades.”
Wes Fang NAT
“I make a brief contribution to debate on the Crimes Amendment (Obstructing a Railway) Bill 2024. I listened to the contributions of other members before deciding to speak. Some perspective needs to be given to debate on the bill and to the amendments that might be moved. In effect, the upper House is a bit of a mishmash of political parties. The Labor Government has its left and right factions.”
Daniel Mookhey ALP
“Susan Carter, Ms Sue Higginson, the Hon. Rod Roberts, Ms Abigail Boyd and the Hon. Wes Fang. I briefly address some of the matters raised in debate on the bill. Ms Sue Higginson suggested that the bill erodes the right to protest—”
News articles and press releases
Crimes Amendment (Obstructing a Railway) Bill 2024
Mr MICHAEL DALEY, Attorney General — 2024-11-12
The bill responds to concerns about recent actions on railway lines that put people’s safety at risk by enabling the Local Court to impose a fine of up to 200 penalty units for the offence in section 213 of the Crimes Act of obstructing a railway. Section 213 makes it an offence for a person to intentionally and without lawful excuse cause the passage or operation of a locomotive or other rolling stock on a railway to be obstructed. Those who knowingly assist another person to obstruct a train or rolling stock on a railway also commit an offence under section 213. The offences in section 213 are punishable by up to two years imprisonment. Section 213 does not specify a penalty amount, which means the default maximum fine which the Local Court can impose is 100 penalty units, or $11,000.