Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Cox, for the question. She is correct that the UN Human Rights Committee found on Friday 23 September that Australia had violated the rights of a group of Torres Strait Islanders by failing to adequately protect them from the impacts of climate change. The finding was made in response to a 2019 complaint filed by eight Torres Strait Islanders from small or low-lying islands in the Strait. This is a reminder, if I may say, before I try to respond to the second part of the question, of what the Labor Party has been saying for years, which is that climate change was an existing threat to island nations and island homes, both in the Pacific region but also in the Torres Strait. I can recall going to Saibai Island when I was climate minister in 2008 or 2009 and seeing first hand what was already occurring as a result of increased storm surge, how that was eroding coastline and eroding infrastructure. It is a reminder yet again of the irresponsibility of those opposite, who, for nine years, refused to do anything about this.

In relation to the broader issue, which is how you try to give effect to and keep faith with First Nations peoples, we have a long way to go on this. I acknowledge that. Part of what we're trying do with our First Nations ambassador and First Nations foreign policy initiatives is work through how it is that we bring the perspective of First Nations people into the work that we do into the world, including on climate. I was very grateful to have Senator Dodson accompany me to the UN General Assembly for that reason. (Time expired)