<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/commentisfree/2025/jul/22/legal-ruling-cant-obscure-the-brutal-reality-of-climate-change-for-torres-strait-islanders>
"As parliament returns for the first time since the May election, talk is
focused on productivity, disastrous childcare failures and how Australia should
position and prepare itself amid rising global turmoil.
If our leaders are serious, they should also make time to look back on the
events of a week ago, when federal court justice Michael Wigney handed down a
judgment in Cairns that is likely to echo for years to come – and says just as
much about what lies ahead as the latest rhetoric from Washington and Beijing.
Much of the initial reaction to the judgment has understandably focused on the
immediate bottom line. Wigney found the federal government did not have a legal
responsibility to protect the Torres Strait Islands from a climate crisis that
is already being experienced.
It was a devastating result for Uncle Pabai Pabai and Uncle Paul Kabai, the
elders from Boigu and Saibai islands – who brought the case – as well as their
communities and the civil society representatives who supported them. But it is
unlikely to be the end. And Wigney stressed that, on facts and moral weight,
their case was strong.
It is worth sitting with what he said in his summary. Every member of
parliament should read it."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
