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Eneko, Anebok, one's an island, one's not

Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek has accused Foreign Minister Julie Bishop of making a mockery of climate change

Eneko or Anebok? Both are part of the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

More correctly, Anebok used to be, until it disappeared into the sea, a victim, Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek says, of climate change and rising sea levels.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop enjoyed some sport at Ms Plibersek's expense in question time on Tuesday, brandishing a photo of an island very much above sea level and featuring houses, lawns, picnic tables and a toilet block.

"It seems to me that when the deputy leader of the Opposition makes a claim, people had better test it very carefully," she said.

But that island wasn't Anebok, which has gone. It was Eneko, which still very much exists.

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It seems the mix-up stems from an error in transcript of an ABC interview Ms Plibersek made last month.

Ms Plibersek accused the minister of trying to score cheap question time points and a few laughs from her colleagues on a topic of great seriousness.

"The disastrous effects of climate change are no joke, especially for our Pacific Island neighbours," she said in a statement, adding that the foreign minister should be ashamed of herself.

"As world leaders are conducting important talks in Paris about action on climate change, she is making a mockery of the issue back here in Canberra and insulting our friends in the Pacific Islands on the way through."


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



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