WA premier defends anti-protest laws

The West Australian premier has defended new controversial anti-protest laws, citing heated protests over Woodside's Browse gas project in 2013 as a reason for tougher penalties.

The proposed legislation, that would allow for the arrest of protesters locking themselves to trees or machinery to prevent lawful activity, has drawn criticism from United Nations representatives and legal professionals.

Mr Barnett said he believed the laws were necessary after recent protests in WA's Kimberley prevented work from going ahead on a controversial gas processing plant at James Price Point.

"The company basically got scared away because of the insults and threats to their employees," he told ABC 720.