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Torres Strait Island Region

November 20, 2023

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).

Torres Strait Island Region
Queensland
Population4,124 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density8.42/km2 (21.80/sq mi)
Established2008
Area490 km2 (189.2 sq mi)[2]
MayorPhillemon Sereako Mosby
Council seatThursday Island
RegionFar North Queensland
State electorate(s)Cook
Federal division(s)Leichhardt
WebsiteTorres Strait Island Region
LGAs around Torres Strait Island Region:
Papua (Indonesia) Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea
Arafura Sea Torres Strait Island Region Coral Sea
Northern Peninsula Area Torres Coral Sea

History edit

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 edit

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]

  • Mayor — Cr. Phillemone Mosby
  • Division 1 (Boigu) — Cr. Dimas Toby
  • Division 2 (Dauan)— Cr. Torenzo Elisala
  • Division 3 (Saibai) — Cr. Conwell Tabuai
  • Division 4 (Mabuiag) — Cr. Keith Fell
  • Division 5 (Badu) — Cr. Laurie Nona
  • Division 6 (Kubin) — Cr. Lama Trinkoon
  • Division 7 (St Pauls) — Cr. John Levi
  • Division 8 (Hammond) — Cr. Seriako Dorante
  • Division 9 (Iama) — Cr. Getano Lui (Jnr) AM (Deputy Mayor)
  • Division 10 (Poruma) — Cr. Francis Pearson
  • Division 11 (Warraber) — Cr. Kabay Tamu
  • Division 12 (Masig) — Cr. Hilda Mosby
  • Division 13 (Ugar) — Cr. Rocky Stephen
  • Division 14 (Erub) — Cr. Jimmy Gela
  • Division 15 (Mer) — Cr. Aven S. Noah

Mayors edit

  • 2008–2012: Frederick (Fred) Solomon Gela [9]
  • 2012–2016: Frederick (Fred) Solomon Gela (elected unopposed) [10]
  • 2016–2020: Frederick (Fred) Solomon Gela [11]
  • 2020–present: Phillemon Sereako Mosby[12]

Services edit

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 edit

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 edit

References edit

  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). . 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). . 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. from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  14. ^   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. ^ (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.

External links edit

    9°52′S 142°35′E / 9.867°S 142.583°E / -9.867; 142.583

    November 20, 2023
    torres, strait, island, region, local, government, area, north, queensland, australia, covering, part, torres, strait, islands, created, march, 2008, autonomous, island, councils, during, period, statewide, local, government, reform, offices, each, communities. 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 Torres Strait Island Region QueenslandPopulation4 124 2021 census 1 Density8 42 km2 21 80 sq mi Established2008Area490 km2 189 2 sq mi 2 MayorPhillemon Sereako MosbyCouncil seatThursday IslandRegionFar North QueenslandState electorate s CookFederal division s LeichhardtWebsiteTorres Strait Island RegionLGAs around Torres Strait Island Region Papua Indonesia Papua New Guinea Papua New GuineaArafura Sea Torres Strait Island Region Coral SeaNorthern Peninsula Area Torres Coral Sea Contents 1 History 2 Structure 3 Mayors 4 Services 5 Geography and Demography 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHistory editThe 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 editThis article needs to be updated Please help update this section to reflect recent events or newly available information June 2020 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 Mayor Cr Phillemone Mosby Division 1 Boigu Cr Dimas Toby Division 2 Dauan Cr Torenzo Elisala Division 3 Saibai Cr Conwell Tabuai Division 4 Mabuiag Cr Keith Fell Division 5 Badu Cr Laurie Nona Division 6 Kubin Cr Lama Trinkoon Division 7 St Pauls Cr John Levi Division 8 Hammond Cr Seriako Dorante Division 9 Iama Cr Getano Lui Jnr AM Deputy Mayor Division 10 Poruma Cr Francis Pearson Division 11 Warraber Cr Kabay Tamu Division 12 Masig Cr Hilda Mosby Division 13 Ugar Cr Rocky Stephen Division 14 Erub Cr Jimmy Gela Division 15 Mer Cr Aven S NoahMayors editThis list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items November 2017 2008 2012 Frederick Fred Solomon Gela 9 2012 2016 Frederick Fred Solomon Gela elected unopposed 10 2016 2020 Frederick Fred Solomon Gela 11 2020 present Phillemon Sereako Mosby 12 Services editThe 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 editThe 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 Badu Island 813 Mer Island 450 Saibai Island 465 Boigu Island 271 Dauan Island 191 Erub Island Darnley Island 310 Hammond Island 243 Iama Island 296 Kubin Moa Island 187 Mabuiag Island 210 Masig Island 270 Poruma Island 155 St Pauls Moa Island 237 Ugar Island Stephens Island 72 Warraber Island 232See also editTorres Strait Regional AuthorityReferences edit 2021 Torres Strait Island Census All persons QuickStats Australian Bureau of Statistics Retrieved 5 August 2023 2021 Torres Strait Island Census Community Profiles Australian Bureau of Statistics Retrieved 5 August 2023 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 Kaye Stuart 1997 The Torres Strait Boston Martinus Nijhoff Publishers pp 12 15 ISBN 9041105069 State of Queensland 2007 Local Government and Other Legislation Indigenous Regional Councils Amendment Bill 2007 Retrieved 31 March 2008 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 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 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 2008 Torres Strait Island Regional Council Mayoral Election Election Summary results ecq qld gov au Retrieved 4 December 2017 2012 Torres Strait Island Regional Council Mayoral Election Election Summary results ecq qld gov au Retrieved 4 December 2017 2016 Torres Strait Island Regional Council Mayoral Election Election Summary results ecq qld gov au Retrieved 4 December 2017 2020 Local Government Elections Saturday 28 March 2020 Electoral Commission of Queensland 2020 Retrieved 16 June 2020 dead link Torres Strait Islands Regional Council Public Libraries Connect 20 September 2016 Archived from the original on 5 February 2018 Retrieved 5 February 2018 nbsp 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 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 External links editFACSIA Occasional Paper 9 52 S 142 35 E 9 867 S 142 583 E 9 867 142 583 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Torres Strait Island Region amp oldid 1168797832, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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