Greenpeace trio fined over smoke stack stunt

Protesters paint 'solar' on a smoke stack at Swanbank Power Station in July.

Three Greenpeace activists who scaled a smoke stack at a power station west of Brisbane have been ordered to pay more than $23,000 in damages.

Pete Cooper, Paul Grajewski and Julien Vincent, all from Sydney, pleaded guilty in the Ipswich Magistrates Court today.

In July, the protesters scaled the 140-metre high tower at Swanbank and painted the words 'Go Solar' in giant letters.

No convictions were recorded but they were each fined $500 and ordered to pay the clean-up costs.

Mr Vincent, 27, says he would do it all again despite the hefty clean-up bill.

He says he and his colleagues will continue to speak out.

"This sort of thing is happening all around Australia, so I think so long as this issue is still remaining remaining critical and so long as there is no real response from government which reflects what we need, then I think the culture is very much one where action on greenhouse emissions is becoming the norm," he said.

Charges against nine other protesters were also heard today.

All pleaded guilty and were fined $300 each.

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Man gets life for grandmother's murder

A Supreme Court judge in Brisbane has jailed an Ipswich man for life for murdering his grandmother.

Brett Adam Crowley, 20, stabbed and smothered his 81-year-old grandmother, Violet Crowley, at her Ipswich unit in 2006.

During the trial, the court heard Crowley attacked her during an argument over housework and his attitude towards her.

The jury returned its guilty verdict after five hours of deliberations.

In sentencing Crowley to a mandatory life term, Justice Richard Chesterman said the Crown's case was a strong one and the jury's verdict was not surprising.

Justice Chesterman told Crowley he had killed the woman who had offered him a home and support, and that his attack on her was vicious, uncalled for and wholly disproportionate.

Outside the court, relative Charlene Scanlan described her grandmother as a wonderful woman.

"She was just a caring lady and she loved us all unconditionally," she said.

"She didn't deserve to die the way she did, especially with the person she loved and trusted as the culprit."

Court awards Ferguson $2,250 compensation

Convicted Queensland sex offender Dennis Ferguson has been awarded $2,250 in compensation after being run out of Ipswich three years ago.

Ferguson claimed he had suffered stress after being forced to leave the area.

Pensioner Noel Watterson was found guilty of threatening him and was sued by Ferguson for damages.

Acting Premier Paul Lucas says the justice system is there to protect everyone.

"The legal system is there for you and me." he said.

"I say to people over and over again, do not take the law into your own hands, and now the consequence is of course that there has been this compensation award in favour of Dennis Ferguson.

Mr Waterson says he does not have the money.

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Greenpeace protesters scale 140m chimney

Greenpeace protesters have scaled a 140 metre power station chimney in southeast Queensland in protest against coal-fired energy.

A police spokesman said protesters arrived at the Swanbank Power Station, west of Brisbane, about 5.30am (AEST) on Friday.

Nine have already been arrested for trespass and police were currently monitoring protesters who had climbed onto the plant, he said.

A Greenpeace statement issued Friday morning said four activists had scaled a smokestack and two others had unfurled a banner reading "Energy Revolution" on the roof of the plant.

Campaigner Julien Vincent is one of the activists climbing the smokestack.

He said the station could be switched off if every home in Queensland changed to solar hot water.

"Queensland has the best solar resources in the world and it is a tragedy that the Sunshine State isn't leading the way in renewable energy," Mr Vincent said before beginning the climb.

Police continue to monitor the peaceful protest.

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