New group to represent South Sea Islanders | SBS News

Australian South Sea Islanders have established a national body to lobby for their interests at a federal level.

At a meeting in Brisbane, representatives of the estimated 40,000 strong community in Australia elected a national president and board.

They represent the descendants of so-called “blackbirds”, Pacific islanders who were kidnapped or broughtas contract labourers to Queensland to work in the agricultural industry between 1863 and 1906.

President Emelda Davis from the Port Jackson branch of the group, told Queensland correspondent Stefan Armbruster it is a long overdue development.

“This is huge for Australian South Sea Islanders simply because it’s been 40 years since the last significant conference addressing the national voice,” Emelda Davis says.

“We believe we’re that ready to do the work to lobby governments and work with the international platforms to assist us to reconnect with our families and capacity-building.”

Listen to the full interview at SBS World News.