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TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 10 AUGUST 2023
Politicians weigh in to stoush over maritime fees BY CARLI WILLIS Queensland’s Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey has slammed comments made by the Federal Member for Leichardt Warren Entsch about the Torres Strait Island Regional Council’s (TSIRC’s) multimillion-dollar legal battle with Sea Swift. Mr Entsch called for the resignation of the TSIRC Mayor and CEO. Minister Bailey told the Torres News it was “highly inappropriate” of Mr Entsch to comment on an active court case between the two. “The Mayor and CEO of TSIRCl have my full confidence,” he said. Earlier this month public court documents were cited in the media revealing TSIRC’s pursuit of 253 invoices for the use of island boat ramps and landing facilities to the sum of more than $66 million. TSIRC Mayor Phillemon Mosby said it was disappointing Mr Entsch did not talk to him before taking his position – based on only a few hours on the islands – publicly.
Poor boat ramp conditions on Moa Island. Pic supplied. “Our gesture of welcoming such government dignitaries, based on our Ailan Kastom, has been taken for granted,” Mayor Mosby said. Mr Entsch conceded he had not contacted the Mayor but defended his call. He said it would be devastating for the region if Sea Swift withdrew their services or raised freight costs. “I’ve been aware of this for quite some time, and I was hoping common sense would prevail and the matter would be resolved amicably,” he said. Sea Swift Chief
Executive Officer Dwayne Freeman told the Torres News the company’s priority was to settle the case and move forward. “We remain committed to keeping Northern Australia connected through our freight services to remote parts of Far North Queensland, including the Torres Strait, and the Northern Territory,” he said. TSIRC’s 15 island communities, covering 42,000 square kilometres of sea country, rely on Sea Swift for delivery of essential foods and goods. Mr Entsch said he visited Poruma, Masig,
Mabuiag and Moa Islands on a recent trip to the Torres Strait. He also visited Waiben and Horn Island in the neighbouring Torres Shire region. He said a photograph he took on Moa Island showed significant cracks in the infrastructure of a boat ramp, which he said had not been maintained properly. “I was surprised to find out Council is charging very significant fees, for Sea Swift to be able to access these ramps,” he said. He said due to the essential nature of the service, Councils
should not charge Sea Swift for the use of the infrastructure. Cr Mosby said under maritime law ships landing in ports were required to report and pay. “Every plane that lands on our communities throughout our 14 islands, those islands will have air strips and they have to pay to land, like anywhere in the country,” he said. “The same rules apply to any shipping company that comes into the Torres Strait that lands at any ports. “Why should the Torres Strait be any different?” He said as a nonrateable, grant-reliant council, the organisation relied on those revenue streams. In October last year the Albanese Government committed $40 million to repair and replace aging infrastructure across the Torres Strait, a sum that was matched by the Queensland Government in March this year. Under the $80 million dollar commitment, funds were to be distributed between three
local government areas; the Northern Peninsula Area Council, the Torres Shire Council and the Torres Strait Island Regional Council. Mayor Mosby said he was overwhelmed by the government’s commitment, but more would be needed. “That’s not enough, but we’ve got to start somewhere,” he said. “The Albanese Labor Government knows how important the marine
infrastructure is in keeping these vulnerable communities accessible.” He said Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) were working with council on a plan to address the issues in the three local government areas. “Mobilisation costs up here would require a collective approach to start replacement of marine infrastructure,” he said.
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‘Yes’ campaigners shed light on Voice STORY AND PICS BY CARLI WILLIS
M Continued from P1 Mr Pearson said there were lots of details that would need to be discussed if the ‘Yes’ vote was successful in the referendum‘. “We’re going to workshop, we’re going to have lots of meetings, you guys need to have lots of meetings,” he said. “Everybody around different parts of the country will be talking about the details. “You will present to the government, ‘this is what we want the Torres Strait to look like’.” Waiben-local Eldrina Warria said she’d been following the Voice campaign on TV but felt she didn’t quite get enough information from the news. She said she had felt confused by different messaging in the media. “Uncertainty puts fear in our hearts that’s why we’re not aware of what the movement’s all about,” she said. “It’s amazing what our leaders are pushing for and working together. “It’s a big thing and I’ve actually realised that now, like
How Does Your Garden Grow Book Iama Sunset - Abbie Pearson Tablemat
ABOVE: Aunty Abigail Harry, Noel Pearson and Richie Ahmat on stage. RIGHT: Noel Pearson at the meeting. what they’re actually doing. “That they will be sitting to give advice to the Parliament about our matters up here.” Ms Warriar said she had reached out to staff at the event to see if she could become a volunteer campaigner in Zenadth Kes. Elder and Kaurareg Aboriginal Corporation Director Enid Tom came from Horn Island to show her support at the event. “I believe that when Mabo came along, that was their
destiny, our elders destiny, to follow that path,” she said. “It is now our time to stand up and take the way forward.” Ms Tom said she felt at some elections Indigenous people missed out as they did not vote properly. “I believe our job now from now to the referendum is to be educating our people [on] what it’s about and how we can benefit out of it,” she said. “And educate people about how to vote in the election.”
shop.gabtitui.gov.au Corner of Blackall St & Victoria Parade Thursday Island QLD 4875
More Waiben pics on P4 N Stories & pics from outer island meetings in our next issue J
