The NSW Parliament is expected to pass legislation today imposing harsher penalties for attacks on council rangers.

Under the new laws, courts will consider it an "aggravating factor" in sentencing if an assault victim is a council officer undertaking enforcement duties.

Local Government Minister Barbara Perry believes the changes will go a long way to protecting rangers she says are "on the frontline".

"Of course no-one likes getting fines, but getting physically violent with a council officer who is just doing his or her job is just not on," Ms Perry said.

Shellharbour City Council ranger supervisor Craig Nolan, a ranger for eight years, welcomed the new laws.

"It can only help," he said. "Considering that we're patrolling school zones to make things safe for the residents, verbal and physical abuse is just not warranted."

Wollongong City Council's director of planning and environment Andrew Carfield said rangers were told to take a "zero tolerance" approach and often dealt with physical intimidation and verbal abuse.

"While we know no-one is going to say thank you if they receive a penalty notice, we do ask people to understand our rangers have an important job to do," he said.

The United Services Union has also welcomed the new laws.

General secretary Ben Kruse said his members were sick of being "bashed, spat on, punched, kicked or have objects thrown at them".

"Every day rangers, parking patrol officers and other council workers experience a myriad of abuse, both physical and verbal, that is both unwarranted and extremely unacceptable," he said.

"No-one, including me, likes to find a ticket on their windscreen. But these workers are simply doing the job they are employed by council to do, and without their work, our communities would be less tolerable to live in."