Greens MP found in contempt over anti-Adani shirt

Queensland's powerful ethics committee has recommended Greens MP Michael Berkman be found in contempt of Queensland Parliament after he wore an anti-Adani shirt inside the building last year.

Speaker Curtis Pitt referred Mr Berkman to the parliamentary ethics committee after the MP attended a student climate protest outside Parliament on March 15.

Queensland Greens MP Michael Berkman on the balcony in Parliament while wearing an anti-Adani T-shirt.

Mr Berkman left the protest and went up to a balcony inside Parliament House with two of his children and "was clapping and waving to the crowd".

Under parliamentary rules banners, signs and T-shirts associated with a political cause or campaign cannot be brought into the precinct.

"Clothing like protest T-shirts have to be removed, covered by a jacket or turned inside out," Mr Pitt said.

"The rationale for these directions and by-laws is to keep the precinct free of protest and preserve its dignity.

"Public assembly outside the gates of the precinct has long been welcomed."

In Mr Berkman's submission to the committee his lawyer, Saul Holt, said there was no way the MP's conduct could be deemed "disorderly."

"The conduct did nothing to defile Parliament House or send a message of disrespect or indifference to the young people of our state, and particularly those present at the rally outside Parliament," Mr Holt wrote.

"On the contrary, Mr Berkman's actions immediately prior to the allegedly disorderly conduct were to assist the Parliamentary staff to ensure there was no damage to the precinct or injury to the
attendees of the rally."

On Tuesday, the ethics committee published its decision that Mr Berkman had involved himself in disorderly conduct at Parliament, and the "the allegations of contempt are made out".

Given Mr Berkman is still in his first term as an MP, "and appeared unaware of the seriousness
of his actions" and that there "was no element of dishonesty or malice", the ethics committee decided no further action would be taken against him.

Mr Berkman said there was no rational basis for the Committee to conclude that wearing a t-shirt amounts to contempt of Parliament.

“The Committee says that the T-shirt diminished the “dignity” of Parliament, so it’s worth reminding everyone what it said," he said.

“The shirt said Adani, No Means No, and it was made by the Wangan & Jagalingou Traditional Owners Family Council in support of their fight against one of the world’s most powerful coal billionaires.

“The Committee is entitled to make their finding, but I’ll leave Queenslanders to make up their own minds about what is fair."