Extinction Rebellion activists charged over protest during state parliament sitting

Police have revealed the average age among a group of climate protesters who are the first to be charged with disrupting parliament in 30 years, is 67.

The average age among a group of climate protesters who have become the first people in Queensland in 30 years to be charged with disrupting parliament is 67, police have revealed.

Police have confirmed nine people have been issued with summons to appear in court on the charge of “disturbing the legislature” following a raucous Extinction Rebellion protest in the public gallery that disrupted parliament last Wednesday for a total of just three minutes.

Updated information from police on Wednesday confirmed that of the group there were six women and three men.

The youngest protester was a 53-year-old Teneriffe woman, and the oldest an 81-year-old man from Indooroopilly.

A total of two protesters were aged in their 50s, four in their sixties, two in their seventies, and one octogenarian.

The group chanted “stop coal, stop gas” after unfurling banners over the railing of the public gallery, which overlooks the chamber. They were quickly removed by security without anyone being hurt or damage being done to property.

Protesters allegedly unfurled banners and disrupted parliament for three minutes while livestreaming the act. Picture: Zak Simmonds

But “disturbing the assembly” or “being disorderly while parliament is sitting” and interrupting proceedings are crimes punishable by up to three years imprisonment.

Immediately after the protest, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told parliament that “people have the right to protest silently in public” – but she added: “Our democracy should be able to function without any fear for members’ security. I will leave that for you to reflect on, Mr Speaker.”

Speaker Curtis Pitt later confirmed he intended to “request” that Queensland Police charge the protesters.

And on Tuesday Queensland Police confirmed nine people had been charged with one count each of disturbing the legislature, with notice to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on February 1 next year.

The Speaker’s Office last night confirmed no such charges had been laid for at least three decades, and so all the way back to the pre-Fitzgerald Inquiry era.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said people should be protesting “silently” in public. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Mr Pitt told parliament the morning after the protest that the activists had circumvented 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.

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

“The right to protest in a free society is an important part of our democracy,” Mr Pitt said.

“(But) the protest that occurred in the assembly yesterday was not a lawful or peaceful protest. It was a protest that attempted to disrupt our primary democratic institution.”

The Extinction Rebellion group claimed responsibility for the protest immediately afterwards.

Spokesman Dave Tucker, in a statement issued immediately afterwards, 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,” Mr Tucker said.

“The Queensland Labor government has a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of only 30 per cent by 2030.

“This target is totally inadequate ... to keep global warming below 1.5°C.”