Ten Australians claim the federal government is failing to protect them from climate extremes in a landmark human rights case lodged with a United Nations committee.
The claimants, including people living with disabilities, First Nations leaders and a firefighter, say Australia is in breach of a prominent human rights treaty by continuing to expand coal and gas exports.
Nyikina Warrwa and Warlungurru woman Anna Poelina said government approval of coal and gas projects was failing both people and Country.
“In 2023 we had the largest flood ever in the history of Western Australia, and our community went underwater,” Professor Poelina, chair of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council in Western Australia, said.
“Not being on country, country gets lonely, we lose the ability to transfer culture,” she told reporters in Canberra.
