A French stuntman has denied putting lives at risk by scaling a Sydney building, saying his stunt was a protest at political inaction on climate change.
Alain Philippe Robert, 48, pleaded not guilty in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Friday to charges of risking the safety of another by climbing a building or structure, and unlawful entry of inclosed lands.
The charges relate to a stunt on August 30 when Robert was arrested after climbing the 56-storey Lumiere Building on Bathurst St in central Sydney.
During his ascent, Robert, known as the French Spiderman, unfurled a banner to raise awareness of the One Hundred Months climate change campaign.
The campaign suggests that after 100 months from August 2008 it may no longer be possible to avoid irreversible climate change.
Outside court on Friday, Robert told reporters he had been raising awareness of climate change and expressed his disappointment at comments made by federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott in 2009 that climate change was "crap".
"I've been sad hearing that Mr Abbott was saying that global warming was crap," he said.
"I think in a way it's a little bit irresponsible to say that."
Robert denied suggestions that he was disrespectful of Australian law.
"I was not endangering people ... there was no point for me to plead guilty," said Robert.
"Why should I plead guilty? I didn't break any fences, I didn't break the door, I used a lift."
Last year, Robert, who is renowned for climbing the world's tallest buildings without safety equipment, was fined $750 for illegally climbing the 41-storey Royal Bank of Scotland Building in Sydney.
The latest charges have been adjourned until October 15.
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