NEWS 03
TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2023
No alternatives in sight for Erub/Mabuaig flights The suspension of commercial – or Regular Passenger Transport – flights in and out of Erub and Mabuiag Islands continues to cause anger and frustration for residents who have few alternatives and no solutions in sight. Darnley resident Diann Lui said she had written to Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey with her concerns. “Residents have no option to travel from the island apart from dinghy to neighbouring islands and then flights from there,” she wrote. “This is not suitable for elderly residents or residents without access to a boat.” A CASA spokesperson said they continued to “work closely with Skytrans”. “Airline management is aware of additional work needed to restart flights to other airfields and we continue to work through the necessary processes to resume commercial flights to more Torres Strait Islands in 2023,” they said in January after flights to Mer were resumed.
Alan Milne and Johnathan Thurston. Pic supplied. Skytrans CEO Alan Milne said they were still waiting for CASA. “Skytrans has been working with CASA to allow for special ‘permissions’ to be granted by CASA to us, enabling us to re-start operations into Murray Island,” he said. “Unfortunately, we are still awaiting CASA approvals to resume operations back into Mabuiag and Darnley islands.”
Torres Strait Island Regional Council Mayor Phillemon Mosby said Council met with Skytrans on Warraber last week. He said they had written to Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King as a result of those meetings, “seeking urgent intervention in to what is becoming a worsening air transport crisis on Erub and Mabuaig islands”.
“The RPT service offered by Skytrans is a life line to the islands proving access to vital goods and services and travel to and from the islands for health, personal and work purposes,” Mayor Mosby said. “We don’t want to see community members and families forced into sea travel in open dinghies due to this unnecessary rule.” Minister King said aviation safety remained their top priority. “The Government understands the importance of reliable transport to remote communities across the Torres Strait,” she said. “I know that CASA and Skytrans will continue to work together cooperatively on this issue.” Queensland Minister Mark Bailey was also contacted for comment earlier this week but were unable to respond in time for our print deadlines. We’ll have more on this story in our next issue J
Questions over Summit funds packages
Several new funding announcements were made by the Queensland Government during and after the recent Torres Strait Islands and Northern Peninsula Cost of Living Summit, some of which are “uncertain” and/or need clarifying, Torres Strait Island Regional Council Mayor Phillemon Mosby says. Stakeholders from across the Torres Strait, Northern Peninsula Area and broader Cape and Gulf communities took part in the Summit, which identified several complex challenges faced by residents. Two funding packages announced by the government - $64m freight funding package for the Northern Peninsula, Torres Strait, Cape York and Gulf
Regions, and $80m in joint State & Federal funding for marine infrastructure – were under scrutiny by local leaders, who have fought hard and long for the funds, Cr Mosby said. “While we welcome that investment into the region, there’s a lot of things that are really uncertain or need a lot of clarity around,” he said. “I’m really interested to know about the methodology, how they’re going to work that out.” He said there were questions about the benefits to consumers. “While it may look like big money, when you spread it across the Torres Strait and further west, people in communities say, ‘where’s that money going to go?’ “If Torres Strait is going to get their
share out of the freight subsidy, how are they going to deliver that – pass it down to the consumer, or is it going to go directly to the freight companies or the shops? What we need in the Torres Strait is competition.” Local MP, and co-chair of the Summit, Cynthia Lui said the work they had to do included engagement with community to identify the most targeted options to ensure the benefits are felt at the community level. “There are details that are yet to be finalised in terms of how these new programs will be implemented,” she said. “I am looking forward to continuing to work with community to identify the best pathways forward, to ensure the benefits are
realised at the individual and community level.” She also said Summit co-chair and Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Mark Bailey was, “working through the mechanisms by which the [freight] subsidy package will be delivered, to ensure it is for the benefit of people living in these remote FNQ communities”. “This work includes engagement with community to identify the most targeted options to ensure the benefits are felt at the community level,” she said. Cr Mosby said they were also concerned about the money for marine infrastructure. “They matched the $40 million with the Commonwealth,” he said. “[Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government]
Catherine King shook my hands and made an election promise on Hammond Island prior to the government being elected into office, and said that money was for the Torres Strait Island Regional Council for the outer islands.” He said TSRIC needed $250 million to replace ramps and jetties. “There’s five communities being shut down already in the Torres Strait,” he said. “And there’s a remaining three communities, that’s going to be eight Council divisions that are cut off from access in terms of poor marine infrastructure.” Ms Lui said the $80 million would be allocated to marine assets in need of repair “which will be identified in consultation with the local community”.
ARTIST WORKSHOP 1:
INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED
DRAWING TECHNIQUES WITH ARTIST NICOLE CROSSWELL 18-20 April 2023 Gab Titui Cultural Centre Thursday Island
Pippa, Nicole Croswelll (2019)
ARTIST WORKSHOP 2:
UNDERSTANDING
DIGITAL MEDIA
COMPLIMENTARY TO
2D TO 3D MEDIA
FOR EXHIBITIONS AND INSTALLATIONS WITH ARTIST KELLIE O'DEMPSEY
16-18 May 2023 Gab Titui Cultural Centre Thursday Island Reframe (2022); Queensland Regional Award 2022
Only 10 places per workshop Registrations close 5pm Monday 3 April
07 40690 888
CAHTeam@tsra.gov.au
