Federal response imminent

Torres Strait Islander climate change complaint before UN

THE Federal Government says it will “respond in due course” after eight Torres Strait Islander people made international legal history with a complaint to the United Nations.

In 2019, eight claimants from four small low-lying islands vulnerable to climate damage filed a complaint to the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC).

In late September, the UNHRC found the Australian government was violating human rights obligations through climate change inaction.

The UN Committee agreed with the eight that; climate change was impacting their lives, the extent violated their rights, Australia breached its human rights obligations by failing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, rights to family life and right to culture was violated and a minority of the Committee found the right to life violated. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said the government was committed to working with Torres Strait Islanders on climate change.

“Soon after the change of government, the Prime Minister, the Minister Indigenous Australians and the Minister Climate Change and Energy travelled to the Torres Strait to talk with elders and owners about the impacts of climate change on them,” he said.

“The Australian government engages in good faith with the Human Rights Committee in relation to any complaint received. and is considering (their) views and will provide its response in due course.”

But Member for Leichardt Warren Entsch, who was Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef in the Morrison government, said the UNHRC was misled.

“They should do their own research and not take the word of an activist organisation,” he said.

“It’s all very well for them to stand up in New York and make a representation to people who don’t even know where Australia is, let alone the Torres Strait.

“I’m not saying there’s no challenges, but the UN has been grossly misinformed.”

Torres Strait Islanders Yessie Mosby, Nazareth Fauid, Stanley Marama, Ted Billy, Kabay Tamu, Daniel Billy, Keith Pabai and Nazareth Warria filed the complaint.

Mr Mosby, a Kulkalgal man and Traditional Owner of Masig Island, said his ancestors were rejoicing knowing that Torres Strait Islander voices were heard throughout the world via this landmark case.

The claimants lawyer, Sophie Marjanac, said it was an “historic victory” for climate justice.

“Australia must seriously invest in adaptation and also drastically reduce its national emissions,” she said.