Source: Australia Government Statements 2
Jen Enosa, Host: So it’s a big welcome. Good morning and hello to welcome our Senator Nita Green, who’s up in the region at the moment. And Nita, it’s a pleasure. It’s been a while in between our last yarn on radio, but yeah, good to see you and to do a bit of catch up today. Welcome.
Assistant Minister Nita Green: Well, big eso and thank you for having me. And it has been a little while since I’ve been here, but what a fantastic reason to come back to celebrate the 1936 Maritime Strike yesterday. It was a fantastic community event. I know you were there. It was a great turnout. We had the Governor General here and just a really special time, I think, to reflect on the importance of that occasion and how we can learn from that story of bravery, of unity and fighting for justice.
Enosa: It was, just historically looking at the event itself, people back in the ’30s, there were different sets of rules and regulations, laws in place. This was even way before the 1967 Referendum took place for the elders of the day to stand up and really fight for that justice and better quality of life.
Green: Yeah. And I think what’s incredible when you look back at the way all of the islands came together and all of the community members came together, supported by allies like the Anglican Church, shopkeepers, people living on the islands as well, that’s really difficult to do. It’s hard to organise people in a workplace. Imagine trying to organise people across 17 different islands, but there was such impetus to take action because the conditions that were being faced by pearl divers were so extreme. The way that they were being treated, the fact they weren’t being paid, they had a system of being given credit at the stores, but they weren’t actually allowed to earn their own money. It’s incredible now when you look back that they were able to organise in the way that they did. And the strike actually went for nine months. It wasn’t one day, it wasn’t one week.
It was an incredible long-term sticking it out. And I think that when you look at a story like that and now look at the people of the Torres Strait, you see that that is embedded in their blood. I mean, the Torres Strait is the birthplace of Eddie Mabo. That fight for justice and for recognition and self-determination is weaved through the stories of Torres Strait Islanders from 1936 now to 2026.
Enosa: The speeches yesterday, which I will be putting on the radio had that, I guess that feeling from that perspective of Torres Strait Islanders looking at, I guess, the overarching issues of whatever they may be reflecting on. When I was there, I was thinking about what happened with the Voice and other things that have gone the way they did, to yesterday’s very strong speeches of that self-determination still coming through, threaded through the conversations of Torres Strait Islanders. What are your impressions of what the leadership was saying there yesterday about the aspirations in going forward from here?
Green: I think the speeches were incredibly moving, particularly from the leaders. And I had a chance to meet with the leaders one-on-one after the event had finished, to have a really frank conversation about the aspirations of the communities over the next 10 years. Because when we come back and celebrate the century, 100 years since the maritime strike, we want to make sure that yesterday wasn’t just about speeches, that there’s action that follows that as well. And whether it’s improving healthcare or education outcomes or taking on what is really the biggest challenge for Torres Strait Islanders now, which is the climate crisis, these are things that leaders are very committed to. And we spoke yesterday about the things that government can do to really make sure that decision making and that aspiration is in partnership with government. We want to work with Torres Strait Islanders so they can achieve the outcomes that they want to see so that in 10 years when we all come back for an even bigger event, we’re able to see the outcomes that we spoke about in those speeches yesterday.
Enosa: Speaking of climate change, just looking around photos, videos put up by families in those vulnerable communities, the current infrastructure, even though there were millions of dollars spent on it, are still being compromised, there’s still more work to be done.
Green: Yeah, absolutely. And I think that the fight against the climate crisis is twofold. We’ve got to take action to reduce emissions, and our government is really committed to that. We’ve backed a plan to achieve net zero and we’re delivering that throughout the country so that we can be a leader around the globe when it comes to taking global action on climate. But we also need to have really practical outcomes here in places like the Torres Strait where climate resilience is something that we need to do now. Our government is investing money. We’ve invested $40 million so far for new sea walls and new marine infrastructure. We’re working with the council on that, and I met with Mayor Mosby yesterday to talk about the direction of that funding. We obviously want to work with state government as well and see them invest in this area as well, but we know that there’s more work to do.
This is not something where you set and forget. Unfortunately, as you know, the sea walls that have been built previously on places like Saibai are no longer current, and that’s how quickly the climate is changing. So we need to make sure that we are in communication with leaders and community members about the priorities when it comes to funding, but it’s my job to go down to Canberra and fight for not just more funding for sea walls, but for more action on climate change.
Enosa: Well, those of you that are listening in this morning, my guest is Senator Nita Green, who is a Labor senator, and she’s been doing some work in Northern Australia as well. So Nita, if I can get you just to, I guess, get us up to speed with what’s been happening in that space there.
Green: Yeah, thank you. I’m really privileged since the election to be the Assistant Minister for Northern Australia. I work with our Minister, Madeleine King, on our Northern Australia policy. And really what that’s about is that there are unique challenges, but also unique opportunities for people living in Northern Australia. We want to see economic development, and we also want to see empowerment of communities, particularly remote indigenous communities. So the work that I do with the minister is about making sure that there’s coordination across our policy makers and where there are opportunities to invest financially or make sure that we have industries that are being supported. That’s what we’ll continue to do. There is a special part of that work, which is dedicated to First Nations people. We have an action plan that primarily looks at the work that we’re doing across government in Northern Australia to advance economic development, particularly for indigenous people.
But we know that economic development in Northern Australia can’t be done without really good indigenous employment plans, engagement and consultation with indigenous communities. So it’s about getting all of the levers working together at the same time.
Enosa: That’s all for that. Is there anything else you want to make mention for our listeners?
Green: I think it’s just good to be back in the Torres Strait. I love being here. It’s a very special part of our country. I’ve recently also become the Assistant Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, and I travel all the way through the Pacific and visit many other countries. And it’s very clear to me that the connection between the communities here in the Torres Strait and our families in the Pacific is very important to the way that we conduct ourselves in the Pacific. And I just want to say thank you because when I walk into a room in a Pacific country and I say eso and I’m from Cairns and I get a big welcome and that’s because of the community connection and the family connections here in the Torres Strait. And we can’t forget when we’re standing on the international stage that we’re part of one big Pacific family and that includes the Torres Strait.
Enosa: Okay. Well, thank you very much. It was lovely catching up with you yesterday and look forward to catching up with you again in your future trips up to the Straits.
Green: Big eso.