Abseiling parliament protesters fined

Abseiling down the front of Parliament House in Canberra has landed two protesters with a $1500 fine each.

Katherine Woskett, 27, and Patrick Kieren Holmes, 26, pleaded guilty in court after unfurling a banner above parliament in December 2016 while a group inside interrupted question time as part of a campaign against detention centres on Manus Island and in Nauru.

"Last week Magistrate Glenn Theakston fined the pair $1500 each, which amounts to almost half the maximum fine for such an offence," Speaker Tony Smith updated the House on Monday.