MEDIA RELEASE

Senator the Hon Penny Wong

Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water
The Hon Jenny Macklin MP
Minister for Indigenous Affairs
Jim Turnour
Member for Leichhardt
PW 110/10 5 May 2010
ASSISTING TORRES STRAIT COMMUNITIES WITH THE
IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Island communities in the Torres Strait will receive tidal gauges to assist them with
monitoring sea levels through $1 million in funding announced today.

King tides, wind and extreme events and increasingly sea level rise are causing tidal
inundation and erosion on islands across the Torres Strait.

The gauges will monitor mean sea levels on at least four islands, providing key information
to assess tidal variation, potential sea level rise and to support planning decisions. Operating
costs for the gauges will be jointly funded by the Federal Government through FAHCSIA and
the Torres Strait Regional Authority.

The Federal Government also announced today $400,000 for new research into the impacts of
climate change on Torres Strait communities.

The Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water, Senator Penny Wong, said
the research would help build scientific knowledge about the risk of inundation to local
communities.

Senator Wong and Member for Leichhardt, Jim Turnour, today visited several islands in the
Torres Strait to examine the problems caused by sea inundation events and coastal erosion.

“After seeing firsthand the unique challenges faced by these Island communities, it is obvious
that we need to gain a better understanding of the potential future impacts of climate change
in this unique region,’’ Senator Wong.

Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, said Torres Strait communities were
particularly vulnerable to the impacts of rising sea levels, but were proactively addressing the
issue.

“I commend the work of the Torres Strait Regional Authority to-date, which will form the
foundation for initiatives that help local communities prepare for the impacts of climate
change,’’ Ms Macklin said.

Mr Turnour said communities in low lying locations were already suffering regular flooding
of their small townships and cultural sites at times of high sea levels.

“Climate change is a real risk, we need to help these communities to better understand the
risks and to prepare for it,’’ he said.

Media contact: Laura Anderson 0411 143 111

Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600 Tel 02 6277 7920 Fax 02 6273 7330