[no bill text published] NSW Ending Protest-Related Crimes for Roads, Public Facilities and Places of Worship

Crimes and Roads Legislation Amendment (Obstruction Offences Repeals) Bill 2026

Private Member's Bill

12 Feb 2026: This bill has lapsed and is no longer under discussion.

Legislative Assembly

Legislative Council

Assent

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Topics

places of worship protest public demonstrations public facilities road obstruction transport infrastructure

Introduced by: Kobi Shetty MP (GRN)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Official page: bill text and explanatory notes

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

offences for entering or obstructing major roads will only apply if the conduct causes damage to the road or seriously disrupts traffic — less disruptive road access will no longer be criminal
trespassing on a major bridge or tunnel (including the Sydney Harbour Bridge) will only be an offence if the conduct causes substantial damage — minor trespass will not be criminal
Part 4AF of the Crimes Act — which made it unlawful to enter or disrupt major public facilities, or to block, harass or intimidate people accessing places of worship — is repealed
police will no longer have a specific power to issue move-on directions for demonstrations near places of worship

News articles and press releases

Crimes and Roads Legislation Amendment (Obstruction Offences Repeals) Bill 2026

Ms KOBI SHETTY, Member for Balmain — 2026-02-12

In short, schedule 1 to this bill amends the Roads Act 1993 to abolish the offence for a person to enter, remain on, climb, jump from or otherwise trespass on a major road. Schedule 3 [1] and [2] amend the Crimes Act 1900 to abolish the offence for a person to enter, remain on or near, climb, jump from or otherwise trespass on or block entry to any part of a major facility. Schedule 3 [3] proposes to repeal part 4AF, abolishing the offence inserted by the Crimes Amendment (Places of Worship) Act 2025, which created new offences for protests in or near places of worship. Schedule 5 amends the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 to remove a police officer’s power to issue move on directions in relation to a protest occurring in or near a place of worship. Schedules 2 and 4 make consequential amendments to the respective Acts.