Alison Barrett

In the latest edition of the Pacific Islands forum column, Isabelle Zhu-Maguire – PhD candidate and Croakey Health Media Member – reports on the impacts of the fuel crisis in the Pacific region, as well as providing an update on dengue fever, gender inequality in politics and a boost for social welfare.

Fiona Martin writes: The Federal Government has this week allocated $7.2 million for Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations and the Northern Territory Government to tackle Australia’s most severe diphtheria outbreak since national record-keeping began. The National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System has reported 231 diphtheria cases this year across the Territory, Western Australia and South Australia, with the majority in the NT and WA.

Alison Barrett writes: The United Nations General Assembly has this week voted to adopt the 2025 International Court of Justice’s ruling that countries have a legal obligation to address climate change. The resolution, prepared by Vanuatu and several other countries, was adopted with 141 in favour, including Australia, eight against and 28 abstentions.