Extinction Rebellion activists plead guilty to protest inside Queensland Parliament, label court case ‘a sorry saga’

The Extinction Rebellion activists who caused parliament to be suspended with a “stop coal, stop gas” protest have pleaded guilty to the 125-year-old offence of disturbing the legislature.

Extinction Rebellion State Parliament protesters leave the Brisbane Magistrates court after they were sentenced. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Extinction Rebellion activists whose climate protest forced State Parliament to be suspended have avoided jail time and a fine.

Their punishment was in stark contrast to the 14th member of their group, Dr Lee Coaldrake – whose husband Peter Coaldrake is a former QUT vice-chancellor and led an integrity review for the state government – who was handed a $5000 fine earlier this year for the same single charge, which was 10 times what the prosecution had asked the court for.

The 13 defendants each pleaded guilty to the 125-year-old offence of disturbing the legislature in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday. Prior to their case and Dr Coaldrake’s, the state’s courts had never dealt with anyone charged with this offence before.

Police Prosecutor Marshall Bostock said the group entered State Parliament on November 30, 2022 and sat in the public gallery for almost 30 minutes.

Supporters gathered at the Brisbane Magistrates court after 13 Extinction Rebellion State Parliament protesters were sentenced. Picture: Tertius Pickard

One of the protesters – Lisa McDermott – initiated the action by coughing loudly twice. The others then stood up and began chanting “stop coal, stop gas” and unfurling banners, which they had smuggled into the building under their clothes.

Parliamentary proceedings were suspended by the Speaker, Curtis Pitt, before security and police were called. The activists left Parliament peacefully when asked to, with the protest lasting only two minutes.

Mr Bostock split the defendants into three groups and asked for them to each receive varying degrees of punishments – based on their histories.

He asked for a $2000 fine and no conviction be recorded against Aisling Niamh Geraghty, 25, Ian Hawksworth, 65, Tracy Ann Hickey, 56, Robin John Keller, 75, Miree Alys Le Roy, 62, Lisa Danielle McDermott, 55, and Judith Ann Rasborsek, 89.

For Wendy Hawksworth, 66, and Dianne Margaret Tucker, 70 – Mr Bostock submitted that a $2500 and no recorded conviction was appropriate.

But for Sasha Marina Steindl, 29, David Karl Rasborsek, 60, Rae Sheridan, 80, and Dr John William Sheridan, 83, the prosecution sought a $3500 fine and a recorded conviction.

Mr Rasborsek’s criminal history included his involvement in a protest on October 10, 2019 where activists parked a car towing a pink catamaran on a trailer and locked themselves to the boat, blocking the intersection at Elizabeth and George streets in Brisbane City during morning peak hour.

Extinction Rebellion State Parliament protesters leave the Brisbane Magistrates court after they were sentenced. Dr Lee Coaldrake (right) was sentenced on a previous date. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Dr Sheridan – a retired physician and medical researcher, who was once Queensland’s State Epidemiologist – had a history of multiple prior convictions “demonstrating his difficulties with authority” according to Mr Bostock. This included charges related to multiple protests at mine sites where activists locked themselves to access gates and blocked driveways.

Ms Sheridan’s history included similar anti-Adani protests activity in Queensland, while Ms Steindl had a Federal offence on her record related to her unlawfully camping on the grounds at Parliament House in Canberra, and anti-mining activist action in NSW.

In reply, defence barrister Veronika Drago asked for all defendants to be placed on a good behaviour bond and have no convictions recorded.

“What you have before you, your honour, is a collective of hardworking, well-educated, decent and charitable people from different walks of life,” she said.

“These are people who are totally and utterly in despair over the environmental crisis. They have worked extraordinarily hard to make contact with politicians and lobby in various ways.

“This was a last-ditch attempt to have their voices heard.”

In sentencing, Magistrate Louise Shephard said she had decided to distinguish the defendants’ case from co-offender Dr Coaldrake.

“This was a premeditated and planned disturbance of the legislature. However, it was peaceful and short in duration, lasting only two minutes,” she said.

Ms Shephard said the prosecution’s proposed sentences were “somewhat formulaic” and ultimately agreed with the submissions from the defence.

All 13 defendants were placed on an 18-month $3000 good behaviour bond and no convictions were recorded.

Addressing supporters outside court, Wendy Hawksworth said what the group did that day was “fantastic” and the cause was “definitely worth fighting for”.

“We had the privilege of having a magistrate who actually spoke about the right to protest and who also spoke about human rights. I live in hope, I don’t live in fear,” she said.

Dr Coaldrake – who was in attendance supporting her fellow activists – described the case as “a sorry saga”.

“The science is clear, climate breakdown is already happening. We see it every night on the news – two record hurricanes in Florida recently,” she said.

“We’ve got a cost-of-living crisis, youth crime crisis, domestic violence crisis, and yet the government chose to spend this enormous amount of money and expertise chasing people who were just trying to bring attention to this existential crisis we’re facing.”

When asked whether their experience in the courtroom on Friday would change their minds about participating in future illegal protest activity, the activists said “only the government taking climate change seriously” would change their minds.