A climate change protester who declared himself the "minister for barbecues" in the middle of a busy Brisbane street is arguing he was not "disorderly", but exercising his right to peaceful assembly under Queensland's new Human Rights Act.

Key points: Byron Lawrie is charged with public nuisance for blocking Alice Street in an act of protest

Byron Lawrie is charged with public nuisance for blocking Alice Street in an act of protest His lawyer argues he is allowed to protest under the Human Rights Act

His lawyer argues he is allowed to protest under the Human Rights Act Magistrate Suzette Coates says the court has been expecting such an argument

Byron Lawrie, 40, was arrested on October 7, 2019, outside Parliament House, at the beginning of a week-long campaign of disruption by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion.

Mr Lawrie was charged with public nuisance and has pleaded not guilty.

The Brisbane Magistrates Court was yesterday shown vision from police body-worn cameras in which officers warned Mr Lawrie to get off Alice Street, before physically pushing him onto the footpath.

The vision showed officers repeatedly asking Mr Lawrie for his name.

He repeatedly replied: "I'm the minister for barbecues. You can't arrest the minister for barbecues."

Byron Lawrie's lawyer is arguing he has a right to protest under Queensland's new Human Rights Act. ( ABC News: Jessica van Vonderen )

Police used bolt cutters to remove a barbecue that was chained to his wrist.

Acting Sergeant Duncan Hill told the court that when he arrived at the scene, traffic was at a standstill.

"I've seen approximately 10 vehicles on the road, a green light displayed. None of the vehicles were moving," he said.

Sergeant Hill said he repeatedly asked the protester, dressed in a wig, cap, board shorts and black suit jacket, to stay off the road.

"He's then continued to push, and I pushed him back and said, 'That's it, you're under arrest'," he said.

Vision of Mr Lawrie's arrest has been posted on social media as part of a video in which "the minister for barbecues" burns the globe on top of his coal-fired barbecue.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 3 minutes 53 seconds 3 m 53 s In The Streets Theatre's barbecue skit and climate protest (Facebook)

Mr Lawrie's defence is arguing there is no case to answer because the prosecution had not established Mr Lawrie's conduct was disorderly.

'A significant issue'

Outside court, special counsel Benedict Coyne said the case was about the fundamental right to protest and provisions in Queensland's new Human Rights Act, which came into force on January 1.

"The laws need to be interpreted in a way that is compatible with the Human Rights Act, particularly the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of association, " Mr Coyne said.

Magistrate Suzette Coates adjourned the case for several weeks to give the prosecution time to make a written submission.

"This is quite a significant issue," she told the court.

"The court's been well expecting an argument such as this … so I need to properly consider it.

"It's not something that should be considered lightly."

The maximum penalty for a public nuisance conviction is six months' jail.