Torres Strait Island Region

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Torres Strait Island Region
Queensland
Population4,124 (2021 census) [1]
 • Density8.42/km2 (21.80/sq mi)
Established15 March 2008
Area490 km2 (189.2 sq mi) [2]
MayorPhillemon Sereako Mosby
Council seat Thursday Island
Region Far North Queensland
State electorate(s) Cook
Federal division(s) Leichhardt
Website Torres Strait Island Region
LGAs around Torres Strait Island Region:
Merauke Regency, South Papua (Indonesia) Morehead Rural LLG, Western Province (Papua New Guinea) Daru Urban LLG / Kiwai Rural LLG, Western Province (Papua New Guinea)
Arafura Sea Torres Strait Island Region Coral Sea
Northern Peninsula Area Torres Coral Sea

The Torres Strait Island Region is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Australia, covering part of the Torres Strait Islands. It was created in March 2008 out of 15 autonomous Island Councils during a period of statewide local government reform. It has offices in each of its 15 communities, and satellite services in Thursday Island and in Cairns (which are outside of the region).

Contents

History

The local government jurisdiction was created on 15 March 2008 from 15 previous entities—the Island Councils of Badu (Mulgrave Is.), Boigu (Talbot Is.), Dauan (Mt. Cornwallis Is.), Erub (Darnley Is.), Kirirri (Hammond Is.), Iama (Yam Is.), Arkai (Kubin Community at Mua Is.), Mabuiag (Jervis Is.), Masig (Yorke Is.), Mer (Murray Is.), Poruma (Coconut Is.), Saibai, Wug (St. Pauls Community at Mua Is.), Ugar (Stephen Is.), and Warraber (Sue Is.). Its first election was held on the same day.

In 1984, the Community Services (Torres Strait) Act was enacted by the Queensland Government, allowing community councils to be created to own and administer former reserves or missions under a Deed of Grant in Trust (DOGIT). [3] Each was responsible for local basic utilities and services such as electricity, housing and management of local CDEP programs. They also worked with the Queensland Police to provide for community police officers—hence extending well beyond the normal functions of local government. [4] The Local Government (Community Government Areas) Act 2004 extended to community councils many of the provisions and benefits of the Local Government Act 1993 normally enjoyed by shire councils.

In 2006, the councils were involved in a consultation process which resulted in a Green Paper being produced. The State Government subsequently took over the process, and in April 2007, a White Paper entitled "Community Government in the Torres Strait: the way forward" was released, recommending both governance and structural changes to ensure the sustainability of governance in the region. The White Paper expressed concerns about workload and capacity to meet community needs, deficiencies in corporate governance and accountability and other challenges and issues. The Local Government Reform report in July 2007 recommended the creation of the Torres Strait Island council as well as the Northern Peninsula Area council to attempt to address these issues. The Queensland Government responded by proposing the Local Government and Other Legislation (Indigenous Regional Councils) Amendment Bill 2007 to bring the two new councils into line with the recommendations of both reports. [5]

Because of the unique structure of the DOGIT areas, where a community owned the land and the council represented the community owners, concerns were raised by the councils about ownership potentially transferring to the new entities and diluting their title over it. Some councils responded by creating a private company with all community members as shareholders, and transferring the ownership to the company. This was opposed by the State Government who threatened to take legal action against the communities.

Following the elections, the Department of Local Government provided $675,000 to the Regional Council to assist with expenses relating to the post-amalgamation transfer process. [6]

Structure

The council consists of 15 divisions, each of which represents one of the former entities and elects one councillor, with a mayor being elected by the entire region. At the 2008 election, the following councillors were elected: [7] [8]

Mayors

Services

The Torres Strait Island Regional Council operate a public library at Poruma and Indigenous Knowledge Centres at Badu Island, Boigu Island, Dauan Island, Erub Island, Hammond Island, Iama Island, Kubin, Mabuiag, and Warraber. [13]

On the 30 August 2002, Erub (Darnley Island) became the second Indignenous Knowledge Centre (IKC) to open in the Torres Strait. The IKC was established in a partnership between the Erub Island Council and State Library of Queensland. Erub Island Council was amalgamated into the newly created Torres Strait Island Regional Council (TSIRC) in 2008. The IKC has been operational and enjoyed by the community for the past 20 years. The IKC has participated in many projects including, Culture Love, a school holiday arts program delivered by TSIRC, State Library and Arts Queensland. [14]

Geography and Demography

The Region is effectively colocated with the Shire of Torres, which administers the northern tip of Cape York Peninsula and a number of islands including Thursday Island, Horn Island and Prince of Wales Island. During statewide local government reform in 2007–08, the Queensland Government considered merging the Shire with the other islands and communities, but felt that having one council subject to three different types of legislation would be inefficient. [15]

At the 2016 ABS census, the area had a population of 4,402;

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torres Strait Islands</span> Group of islands in the Torres Strait between Australia and New Guinea

The Torres Strait Islands are an archipelago of at least 274 small islands in the Torres Strait, a waterway separating far northern continental Australia's Cape York Peninsula and the island of New Guinea. They span an area of 48,000 km2 (19,000 sq mi), but their total land area is 566 km2 (219 sq mi).

The Mabuyag are an Indigenous Australian group of Torres Strait Islander people united by a common language, strong ties of kinship and survived as skilled hunter–fisher–gatherers and horticulturalists in family groups or clans living on and around Mabuiag Island, in Torres Strait in Queensland, Australia. They are ethnically Melanesian.

Lip-Air Pty Ltd, operating as Aero-Tropics Air Services (ATAS), was an airline based in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Its main base was Cairns Airport, with its operating hub at Horn Island Airport.

Skytrans is an airline and air charter business based in Cairns, Queensland. The airline operates RPT and charter services from Cairns, Horn Island, and Brisbane. After being placed in administration in January 2015, Skytrans returned to the skies on 31 March 2015. As of March 2024, it is owned by European based Avia Solutions Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boigu Island (Queensland)</span> Suburb of Torres Strait Island Region, Queensland, Australia

Boigu Island is the most northerly inhabited island of Queensland and of Australia. It is part of the Top Western group of the Torres Strait Islands, which lie in the Torres Strait separating Cape York Peninsula from the island of New Guinea. The mainland of Papua New Guinea is only 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) away from Boigu. Boigu has an area of 89.6 square kilometres (34.6 sq mi). Boigu Island is the name of the locality on the island within the Torres Strait Island Region. Boigu is predominantly inhabited by indigenous Torres Strait Islanders. In the 2021 census, the population of the island was 199, of whom 189 people or 95% of the population identified as Indigenous Australians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saibai Island</span> Suburb of Torres Strait Island Region, Queensland, Australia

Saibai Island, commonly called Saibai, is an island of the Torres Strait Islands archipelago, located in the Torres Strait of Queensland, Australia. The island is situated north of the Australian mainland and south of the island of New Guinea. The island is a locality within the Torres Strait Island Region local government area. The town of Saibai is located on the north-west coast of the island. According to the 2016 census, Saibai Island had a population of 465 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seisia, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Seisia is a coastal town and a locality in the Northern Peninsula Area Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Seisia had a population of 293 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moa Island (Queensland)</span> Island in the Torres Strait, Queensland

Moa Island, also called Banks Island, is an island of the Torres Strait Islands archipelago that is located 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Thursday Island in the Banks Channel of Torres Strait, Queensland, Australia. It is also a locality within the Torres Strait Island Region local government area. This island is the largest within the "Near Western" group. It has two towns, Kubin on the south-west coast and St Pauls on the east coast, which are connected by bitumen and a gravel road. In the 2016 census, Moa Island had a population of 448 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coconut Island (Queensland)</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Coconut Island, Poruma Island, or Puruma in the local language, is an island in the Great North East Channel near Cumberland Passage, Torres Strait, Queensland, Australia. One of the Torres Strait Islands, Coconut Island is 130 kilometres (81 mi) northeast of Thursday Island. Administratively, Coconut Island is a town and Poruma Island is the locality within the Shire of Torres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yam Island</span> Island in Queensland, Australia

Yam Island, called Yama or Iama in the Kulkalgau Ya language or Turtle-backed Island in English, is an island of the Bourke Isles group of the Torres Strait Islands, located in the Tancred Passage of the Torres Strait in Queensland, Australia. The island is situated approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi) northeast of Thursday Island and measures about 2 square kilometres (0.77 sq mi). The island is an official locality known as Iama Island within the local government area of Torres Strait Island Region. The town, also called Yam Island, is located on the north-west coast of the island. In the 2021 census, Iama Island had a population of 275 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talbot Islands</span>

Talbot Islands are a group of Torres Strait Islands in Queensland, Australia. They lie between the Australian mainland and the island of New Guinea and a few kilometres west of Saibai Island, Torres Strait, only 4 km from the Papua New Guinea mainland at the mouth of the Mai Kussa River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Peninsula Area Region</span> Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Northern Peninsula Area Region is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Australia, covering areas on the northwestern coast of Cape York Peninsula. It was created in March 2008 out of three Aboriginal Shires and two autonomous Island Councils during a period of statewide local government reform. In June 2018, the area had a population of 3,069.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torres Strait Regional Authority</span>

The Torres Strait Regional Authority is an Australian Government body established in 1994 to administer the Torres Strait Islands. It consists of 20 elected representatives. The primary function of the authority is to strengthen the economic, social and cultural development of the peoples of the Torres Strait area.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy Trinity Church, Saibai Island</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Holy Trinity Church is a heritage-listed Anglican church at Saibai Island, Torres Strait Island Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1917 to 1938. It is also known as Holy Trinity Church of England. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Saints Anglican Church, Darnley Island</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

All Saints Anglican Church is a heritage-listed church at Darnley Island, Torres Strait Island Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1919 to 1938. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dauan Island</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Dauan Island is an island in the Torres Strait, Queensland, Australia; it is also known as Cornwallis Island. Dauan Island is also a town and locality in the Torres Strait Island Region, Queensland, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masig Island, Queensland</span> Suburb of Torres Strait Island Region, Queensland, Australia

Masig Island is an island and locality in the Torres Strait Island Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Masig Island had a population of 283 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torres Strait Air</span> Australian airline

Torres Strait Air is an Australian airline based on Horn Island, Queensland, offering scheduled passenger and charter services between to the Torres Strait Islands and Cape York Peninsula islands. It also provides charter services between the region and Papua New Guinea.

References

  1. ↑ "2021 Torres Strait Island, Census All persons QuickStats". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  2. ↑ "2021 Torres Strait Island, Census Community Profiles". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  3. ↑ Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (23 February 2008). "Land Rights". Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2008.
  4. ↑ Kaye, Stuart (1997). The Torres Strait. Boston: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. pp. 12–15. ISBN   9041105069.
  5. ↑ State of Queensland (2007). "Local Government and Other Legislation (Indigenous Regional Councils) Amendment Bill 2007" . Retrieved 31 March 2008.
  6. ↑ Minister for Main Roads and Local Government (27 March 2008). "Media Statement – State funding to ease transition for far north Queensland councils: Pitt" . Retrieved 31 March 2008.
  7. ↑ Electoral Commission Queensland (28 March 2008). "2008 Torres Strait Island Regional Council – Councillor Election – Election Summary". Archived from the original on 27 July 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2008.
  8. ↑ "Mayoral election time". Torres News. 29 February 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2008.
    * "Fred Gela likely mayor of TSIRC". Torres News. 18 March 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2008.
  9. ↑ "2008 Torres Strait Island Regional Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". results.ecq.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  10. ↑ "2012 Torres Strait Island Regional Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". results.ecq.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  11. ↑ "2016 Torres Strait Island Regional Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". results.ecq.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  12. ↑ "2020 Local Government Elections: Saturday, 28 March 2020". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.[ dead link ]
  13. ↑ "Torres Strait Islands Regional Council". Public Libraries Connect. 20 September 2016. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  14. ↑ CC BY icon-80x15.png This Wikipedia article incorporates text from Erub: Coming of the Light (30 August 2022) by Indigenous services published by the State Library of Queensland under CC BY licence , accessed on 18 January 2023.
  15. ↑ "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island local government" (PDF). Report of the Local Government Reform Commission. State of Queensland. July 2007. pp. 59–65. ISBN   978-1921057106. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2008.

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