Queensland Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett. Photo: Tony Perrett.
The Queensland Minister for Primary Industries has urged the Federal Government to ramp up resourcing and patrols as biosecurity concerns mount over illegal foreign fishing boats in the Torres Strait.
Minister Tony Perrett said the “greatly concerning” incursion of vessels in northern waters “ratchets up the biosecurity risk to the entire Queensland food production system”.
“It’s not acceptable that foreign fishing vessels are slipping through the federal safeguards and being found by Queenslanders in mainland creeks,” he said.
An Australian Border Force crew approaches an illegal Indonesian fishing vessel near Deliverance Island, west of the Torres Strait. Photo: Australian Border Force.
“I’m calling on the Albanese Government to fund a senior officer permanently based in the Torres Strait to lead a response which includes involving local communities.
“Queensland stands ready to support the Commonwealth and we have contributed a Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol vessel to join the federal efforts.”
Australian Border Force (ABF) reported officers had intercepted 15 foreign fishing vessels in the region since the start of the year.
Last month, the ABF launched Operation Broadstaff in a bid to tackle the problem.
But Federal Leichhardt MP Matt Smith said the Commonwealth had been working on a more permanent solution.
In recent days, Mr Smith and Federal Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs Julian Hill visited Thursday Island, as did Mr Perrett and Cook MP David Kempton.
Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs Julian Hill and Leichhardt MP Matt Smith undertaking consultation on Thursday Island. Photo: Matt Smith.
Meetings involved Torres Strait Island Regional Council, Torres Shire Council, Torres Strait Regional Authority, Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council, ABF and the Australian Defence Force, among other organisations and individuals.
Mr Smith, who has just opened an office at 100 Douglas St on Thursday Island, said the Commonwealth wanted to gauge community expectations and ensure “a Torres Strait solution to a Torres Strait area”.
“We got out to Dauan and Boigu, and we were able to sit down with the leaders out there as well, who are obviously on the front line,” he said.
“It wasn’t just a TI-centric event; we got out and about, and made sure that everyone who wanted to have an opportunity to speak to Julian and myself got that opportunity.
“Ultimately, we’re looking at a permanent solution that empowers Torres Strait Islander people to be in charge of their own areas and a big part of that is what happens next in terms of empowering BMOs [border monitoring officers], creating new career pathways and getting that local knowledge on the compliance enforcement part.
“A really big thing was ensuring that there are local people directly engaged with Border Force.”
It comes as Mr Kempton has warned the ongoing presence of illegal fishing boats could lead to disastrous outbreaks affecting both primary producers and public health.
Cook MP David Kempton and Queensland Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett visited Thursday Island to speak with locals. Photo: Tony Perrett.
“As the sightings of illegal fishing boats from Indonesia into Australian waters continue to escalate, it is becoming increasingly obvious a new strategy is required to deal with the threat,” he said.
“Our leaking border not only threatens our fishing industry by depleting stocks through unregulated practices – there are mounting biosecurity risks to our primary industries by screw worm fly, lumpy skin and foot-and-mouth disease … and further threats to the human population by malaria, tuberculosis and arboviruses and so on.”
Mr Kempton said the Torres Strait community were worried about the “transport of illegal drugs, firearms and human trafficking, not to mention the defence risk in uncertain geopolitical times”.
“Above all, Torres Strait Islanders are fearful of these incursions, as they are unsure of the motivation and purpose of so many vessels visiting the region,” he said.
“It’s imperative locals with extensive knowledge and experience take the lead and their role in delivering a solution is respected.”
Mr Perrett said it was made clear to him during the consultative meetings the current Commonwealth response was “completely inadequate”.
“Torres Strait Islanders say they are living alongside the weakest border in the country, and all Queenslanders should be alarmed that the entire state is being exposed due to these incursions,” he said.
Operation Broadstaff is ongoing and anyone with information should file a Border Watch Online Report on the ABF website.
