# Commonwealth of Australia

Type: Company

Source: Climate Intelligence Brief — https://getclimatebrief.com/entity/commonwealth-of-australia-company
Canonical HTML page: https://getclimatebrief.com/entity/commonwealth-of-australia-company

## Timeline

- **2026-07-28**: Appeal hearing begins — A four-day hearing commences in Melbourne, arguing the government set an unambitious and unfair emissions target.
- **2025-07**: Federal Court rules against islanders — Justice Wigney accepts climate impacts but dismisses case, finding policy decisions immune from negligence law.
- **2021**: Federal Court proceedings launched — Elders Uncle Paul Kabai and Uncle Pabai Pabai file suit against the Commonwealth, seeking orders to cut emissions.

## Recent coverage (1 stories)

### Torres Strait appeal targets Australia’s climate duty of care, citing 1.5°C target
2026-07-28 14:30:07 · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 5/10 · Sources: 3

A four-day appeal hearing examines whether the Australian government owes a duty of care to Torres Strait Islanders facing sea-level rise. The case challenges the separation of powers argument and could force a tightening of national emissions targets to align with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal.
Full story: https://getclimatebrief.com/story/torres-strait-islanders-climate-appeal-2026

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