Animal rights activists convicted of trespassing on WA farms will face fines of up to $24,000 and two years in jail, in addition to a new type of community order that prevents them from entering any agricultural property for years, under proposed laws.

Attorney-General John Quigley said his proposal — to be taken to Cabinet on Monday week — involves a new aggravated trespass charge, where maximum penalties are double that of current trespass laws, which carry a maximum $12,000 fine and one year in jail.

Aggravated trespass charges would apply when entering agricultural land with the purpose of committing an offence or disrupting agricultural production.

“In addition to that fine or imprisonment, offenders will be issued with a community-based supervision order, of which a standard condition will be they cannot enter on any agriculture land other than with the owner’s express permission, for a set number of years,” Mr Quigley said.

Maximum proposed penalties for breaking the new community order were not yet determined, but he said additional orders such as intensive supervision or suspended jail sentences could also be imposed.

Mr Quigley’s change of heart away from restraining orders has drawn criticism from Nationals WA, particularly as the AG told State Parliament in April that punishing activists with a CSO would offend the community.

Nationals WA agriculture spokesman Colin de Grussa said the Minister’s backflip showed the indecisiveness of the McGowan Government when it came to dealing with the rising wave of criminal behaviour undertaken by vegan activists.

"The McGowan Government can’t make up its mind. Earlier this week the AG described activists as ‘mushy headed’ but it seems he is suffering from the same affliction," Mr de Grussa said.

Mr Quigley said it was not a backflip, rather new community order would be more appropriate than a restraining order because it was broader in it application and was not confined to single properties.

WAFarmers chief executive Trevor Whittington said he was confident the State Government was on the right track.

“We are confident the Government will look for the best legal option to dissuade these clowns from attempting to be vegan Martyrs,” he said.