Pro-refugee protesters who shut down parliament after gluing their hands to railings late in 2016 have vowed to continue staging demonstrations while they await trial accused of damaging commonwealth property.
The four men and three women from the Whistleblowers, Activists and Citizens Alliance each pleaded not guilty when they faced the Canberra Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Afterwards, protester Chammy Hill said the group had tried for years to be heard through more conventional means.
"We have written letters and signed petitions, we have attended rallies and speak-outs, we have held sit-ins and we have blockaded," she told reporters outside court.
"We have reached a critical moment in Australia's history where these methods are no longer enough. We have been unable to reach those in power, our so-called representatives."
The group took "direct action" inside Parliament House on November 30 in a bid to be heard.
"We called out to our elected representatives to demand that they end their inhumane policies," Ms Hill said.
"We cannot remain silent while innocent people are being imprisoned and tortured in our name."
Fellow protester Sally Hunter said the group maintained their innocence and looked forward to pleading their case before a jury.
"Refugees and asylum seekers have been detained in our name for too long, and the Australian government's policies are killing innocent people," she said outside court.
"We needed to tell our representatives directly that they are complicit in the rape, torture and child abuse of innocent people who have been imprisoned indefinitely for the simple act of asking for help."
The group from Whistleblowers, Activists and Citizens Alliance outside Canberra Magistrates Court have pleaded not guilty, Source: Facebook/Whistleblowers, Activists and Citizens Alliance
The seven are accused of intentionally damaging commonwealth property - a balustrade in the southern gallery of the House of Representatives - an offence which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
They were all committed to stand trial in the ACT Supreme Court and will face court again later this month.
Ms Hunter vowed to take part in further protest action while awaiting trial.
So too did Ms Hill.
"We will not stop until they close the camps and they provide safety for every person in offshore detention," she said.
Earlier, Magistrate Beth Campbell enjoyed a lighter moment when calling each accused up to the bench.
"It's a little like graduation day, isn't it?" she said.
The group was among dozens of pro-refugee protesters who disrupted question time in November after refusing to budge from the public gallery.
Two others are facing less serious charges after abseiling down the front of Parliament House the following day to unfurl a banner bearing the slogan "close the bloody camps now".
Kat Woskett and Patrick Holmes were not in court but solicitor Tim Sharman entered pleas of not guilty to offensive behaviour on their behalf.
They are expected to face court again on February 13 next year, where Mr Sharman it would not be factual issues at play, but "interesting legal ones".
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