Queensland police will have new powers to search protesters they suspect of possessing so-called "locking devices", under new laws to be introduced to State Parliament.

Key points: Annastacia Palaszczuk told Parliament the protester crackdown comes on advice from the Police Commissioner

Annastacia Palaszczuk told Parliament the protester crackdown comes on advice from the Police Commissioner The Premier says blocking roads is "dangerous, reckless, irresponsible" and "sinister"

The Premier says blocking roads is "dangerous, reckless, irresponsible" and "sinister" The Premier's tweet announcing the new law has earnt hundreds of negative responses

The devices will be made illegal, and new laws would mean protesters using them could face fines.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the introduction of the new laws on Twitter, saying protesters were using "sinister tactics".

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But her tweet has been met with hundreds of negative replies defending the actions of climate protesters and the right to stage acts of civil disobedience.

Climate activists linked to the group Extinction Rebellion have caused traffic chaos during a series of protests in Brisbane's CBD over the past two months.

In some cases, protesters have glued themselves to roads to stop police from removing them.

Ms Palaszczuk told Parliament the Police Commissioner last week showed her evidence of some of the tactics protesters were using to prevent themselves being removed from roads and railway lines, including "locking devices" laced with booby traps.

"These protesters put their arms in steel cylinders and drums filled with concrete," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"Inside these cylinders and drums are glass fragments — even butane gas containers — so that anyone trying to cut a protester free will be injured or worse.

"Blocking roads is dangerous, reckless, irresponsible, selfish and stupid.

"You can tell yourself your cause is worth gluing yourself to a road but you'll never explain to a grieving family why your politics are worth stopping an ambulance from reaching a hospital.

"Police have made dozens of arrests using existing laws but I now believe we need new ones."

Ms Palaszczuk said the devices will now be illegal, and police will have the power to search those they reasonably suspect are in possession of them.

Extinction Rebellion spokeswoman Emma Dorge said the Queensland Government's move showed their actions were having an impact.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 1 minute 12 seconds 1 m 12 s Police charge dozens of people over climate change protests in Brisbane's CBD.

"These proposed laws are really indicative of the fact that civil disobedience and Extinction Rebellion South East Queensland tactics are really powerful and effective," she said.

She told the ABC accusations that protesters rigged their locking devices with traps to harm authorities were unfounded, and such a tactic was "entirely against Extinction Rebellion's principles".

Ms Dorge said the group was unfazed by the Government's move.

"This isn't about legality or how much you can fine us; this is about morality and people fighting for their survival, and we won't slink away in the face of more draconian laws," she said.

'Joh would be proud'

Speaking outside Parliament, Greens MP Michael Berkman described the laws as "anti-democratic" and aimed at silencing peaceful protest.

"Queensland Labor is apparently going to shocking lengths to silence dissent and to effectively run roughshod over the rights of peaceful protestors," Mr Berkman said.

"It leaves me asking are we here in Queensland now living under the 'Joh Bjelke-Palaszczuk' regime?

"This is the kind of draconian police state that Joh would be proud of if they keep producing these sorts of laws.

"The double standard here is absolutely staggering too. Big coal donors get a slap on the wrist and get a piddling fine when they break the law and yet the Government is designing brand new laws to criminalise and imprison peaceful protestors who are standing up for a safer climate future."

But Police Assistant Commissioner Peter Crawford said the devices put officers at risk.

"They are dangerous devices. Any time you need to remove this type of equipment from railways and other places it's always a safety issue for both police and the person to whom the device is attached," he said.

Queensland Council for Civil Liberties president Michael Cope said if it was true that protesters were using booby traps, such actions were to be condemned.

But he said police already had the power to search anybody they suspected possessed something intended to cause harm.

"We are always concerned about proposals for increased police powers," he said.

"The first test the Government has to pass is to establish that there is not already sufficient power to deal with the problem."

'Cohort of extremists crossing the line'

Police Minister Mark Ryan said anyone caught in possession of a dangerous device could face up to one year in jail, and those found using such devices would face up to two years in jail.

"We will be outlawing dangerous devices, specific devices which are used by this cohort of extremists to attach themselves to critical infrastructure, public thoroughfares, railway lines and other infrastructure," Mr Ryan said.

Police said the devices put responding officers at risk in protest actions. ( ABC News: Amanda Dell )

"We'll also be providing the police with those powers to search people or vehicles who the police reasonably suspect may be in possession of these devices.

"The message to everyone is you can protest so long as you do so lawfully and peacefully.

"These are a cohort of extremists who are crossing the line and putting their own lives at risk, the lives of emergency responders at risk, but are also significantly disrupting the legal rights of other Queenslanders."

Mr Ryan said he hoped to introduce the legislation by the end of the year.

Opposition leader Deb Frecklington said the Premier should support the LNP's proposed industrial sabotage laws, introduced to Parliament in May, which would mean increased fines and jail time for anyone charged with trespass offences.

However, Ms Frecklington said the Opposition's proposal did not cover protest action and the LNP would develop its own policy response.

"The reason we have to is because Queenslanders are sick to death of it," she said.

An Extinction Rebellion spokeswoman said using booby traps in locking devices was against their principles. ( ABC News: Dan Smith )

'You can't shut down all of us'

Anti-Adani activist group Galilee Blockade spokesman Ben Pennings condemned the Government's move.

"Labor is revisiting the Bjelke-Petersen era, stifling dissent to a regime controlled by fossil fuel donors," he said.

"It didn't work then and it won't work now because a majority of Queenslanders don't want the Adani mine. You can't shut down all of us.

"Most of our members are grandparents. Will police start strip-searching them looking for super-glue, just because they want to protect their grandkids? Labor must embrace clean energy rather than dirty politics."