Knitting Nannas tell court NSW protest laws have left them ‘frightened’ to take climate action

Helen Kvelde (centre) with Knitting Nannas climate campaigners outside the NSW supreme court, where a challenge to the state’s protest laws is being heard. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

Climate activists have been “intimidated” and “frightened” from protesting by sweeping new laws that impose jail terms for demonstrations that disrupt major roads or public facilities, the New South Wales supreme court has heard.

Simply gathering near a train station in the city could see protesters jailed, environmental campaigners have told the court, so broad are the new laws’ powers.