Climate change protesters may face charges after parliament protest

A group of climate change activists who infiltrated and disrupted Queensland parliament on Wednesday may face criminal charges, with claims a wheelchair was used so metal detectors would not pick up cameras used to film the protest.

A group of climate change activists who infiltrated and disrupted Queensland parliament may face criminal charges, with the Speaker revealing how protesters smuggled large anti-coal banners through security.

Extinction Rebellion protesters caused momentary chaos on Wednesday when the group of ten stood up in the public gallery of parliament chanting anti-coal slogans and unfurling banners over the railing amid Question Time.

The protest was livestreamed to Facebook, in contravention of the rules of broadcast of the chamber, before the group were bundled out of the building by security.

The group had not identified themselves as Extinction Rebellion activists prior to the protest, rather entering parliament under the guise of being average members of the public.

Speaker Curtis Pitt said the security of parliament was of ‘utmost importance”.

Speaker Curtis Pitt revealed the protesters were able to circumvent parliament security by hiding their banners – which bore slogans like “stop coal, stop gas” and “Qld coal burnt anywhere causes climate hell” – under clothes, including under skirts and shawls.

He said in a “particularly despicable act” cameras to film and live stream the protest were brought in “by accomplices using disabled access facilities for a wheelchair, thus avoiding metal detectors”.

Disturbing the Assembly or being disorderly while parliament is sitting and interrupting proceedings is a crime punishable by up to three years imprisonment, with laws allowing alleged offenders to be arrested without warrant.

“The security of the Parliamentary Precinct is a matter of utmost importance,” Mr Pitt said.

“Parliamentary Security is investigating this matter with all the means at its disposal, to obtain all necessary evidence in this matter.

“I intend to request that the Queensland Police Service charge the offenders that disturbed the Assembly.”

Extinction Rebellion spokesman Dave Tucker, in a statement issued immediately after the protest, said continuing to export fossil fuels “is reckless”.

“Fossil fuels, no matter where they are burnt impacts everyone across the world. We all share the same atmosphere,” he said.