The Federal Court has dismissed a landmark class action brought by Uncles Paul Kabai and Pabai Pabai – two Torres Strait Islander men who said Canberra owed them a duty of care to safeguard their homelands from rising seas.

Justice Michael Wigney accepted the islands are being “ravaged by human-induced climate change,” yet ruled the law offers “no real or effective” path to relief – and the Commonwealth argued Torres Strait Islanders can “protect themselves” by moving.

The Uncles insist losing is not an option and vow to keep fighting.

 Today, Gunaikurnai and Wotjobaluk writer and contributor to The Saturday Paper Ben Abbatangelo on how a court recognised the crisis but left the Torres Strait to face it alone – and what the government’s defence reveals about its climate stance.

 

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Guest: Gunaikurnai and Wotjobaluk writer and contributor to The Saturday Paper, Ben Abbatangelo.

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