The NSW parliament appears set to pass legislation that could expose a wave of coal seam gas protesters across the state to criminal penalties of up to seven years' imprisonment for disrupting mining activity.

The passage of the legislation appears secure after the Shooters and Fishers and party declared it would support the legislation, which would bring criminal sanction onto protesters who "lock on" to mining equipment to delay gas exploration.

The shooters party MLCs Robert Borsak and Robert Brown are backing protester legislation. Credit:Steven Siewert

It had been speculated that the party would oppose the bill, as part of plans to court the votes of farmers, among whom mining activity is unpopular. It has proposed to rename itself the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party.

"These people destroy assets, steal assets [… and there are] small business people whose lives are destroyed," party MLC Robert Borsak said. "There's no need for that.