Parliament protesters vow to fight rare charge

A group of climate activists who appeared in a Brisbane court charged with the rare crime of disrupting parliament have said the charge was heavy-handed and have vowed to fight. VIDEO

• Parliament protester’s link to Premier
• Editor’s view: Punishment doesn’t fit crime

A group of climate change activists charged with the rare crime of disrupting Parliament have decried the “heavy-handedness” of governments against protesters.

Fourteen Extinction Rebellion protesters, aged 24 to 82, faced Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday for their alleged involvement in a protest within State Parliament at the end of 2022.

Among the group are high-profile Queenslanders Lee Coaldrake — a retired anaesthetists whose husband is former QUT vice-chancellor Peter Coaldrake — and former state epidemiologist John Sheridan.

Extinction Rebellion protesters outside court in Brisbane’s CBD. Picture: Richard Walker

The group is being represented by the Environmental Defenders Office and outside court mentioned they would fight the charge of disturbing the legislature — a crime punishable by up to three years’ prison.

But it is a rare charge and has not been used for at least three decades.

On November 30, 2022, a group of Extinction Rebellion protesters unfurled banners over the railing of the public gallery which overlooks the chamber in parliament while chanting slogans like “stop coal, stop gas”, disrupting parliament for a total of three minutes.

The activists were quickly hauled out by security with no property damaged or people physically harmed.

A gathering outside the court on Roma St on Wednesday morning. Picture: Richard Walker

Dr Coaldrake, speaking outside court, said it wasn’t for her to comment on whether or not the group should have ever been charged in the first place but lamented the “general overreach” of state and federal governments in silencing protesters.

“The 14 of us are in solidarity and what we have in common is belief in the science, and we are terrified about what the future holds for our children and grandchildren, your children and grandchildren,” Dr Coaldrake said.

“We are here because we are not acting appropriately or urgently enough on climate change.”

The activists mentioned a 2018 incident involving anti-Adani protesters who sprinkled black confetti from the parliament gallery on to MPs below, noting no charges were ever laid.

Extinction Rebellion protesters at Roma St courts precinct this morning. Picture: Richard Walker

Dr Sheridan was one of the oldest of the Extinction Rebellion group, which had an average age of 61, alongside Judith Rasborsek who was 82 when she was charged.

Ms Rasborsek said she was not worried about going to jail for allegedly disrupting the legislature, saying she was worried about her grandchildren and her great grandchildren.

“What kind of world are they going to get?” she said.

Dr Sheridan said he wasn’t afraid of facing a three year jail term, joking that considering his age he wouldn’t be around to serve the full sentence.

Police prosecutor Matt Khaler asked for a special bail condition that the defendants not enter to within the fence line of Parliament House, which was not opposed by the group’s barrister Sophie Harburg instructed by the Environmental Defenders Office.

The others charged were Aisling Niamh Geraghty, Ian Hawksworth, Wendy Hawksworth, Tracy Ann Hickey, Robin John Keller, Miree Alys Le Roy, Lisa Danielle Mcdermott, David Karl Rasborsek, Rae Sheridan, Sasha Marina Steindl and Dianne Margaret Tucker

The matters were adjourned to February 15.