Torres Strait Regional Authority
Encyclopedia
The Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) is an Australian Government body established to administer the Torres Strait Islands
.The TSRA 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. The authority was established in 1994. The TSRA was setup to replace the activities that were previously conducted by the abolished Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
. Nearly two thirds of the authority's funds are spent on employment programs. Most of the remaining funding is spent on housing programs.
The TSRA is part of the Territory Coalition, which is trying to gain official Territory status for the Torres Strait Islands. The plan would see the TSRA and local governments in the area abolished.
's Cape York Peninsula
and comprise 274 small islands, of which 17 are inhabited, located in Torres Strait
which separates Australia and Papua New Guinea
(PNG). Each island community elects a member to the Torres Strait Regional Authority.
Thursday Island (Waiben) and Horn Island (Nurupai) are the most well-known of the Torres Strait Islands. Activities on the islands are quite traditional, with fishing being the major economic activity. To travel to the remote islands (other than Thursday and Horn Islands) permission is required from the Torres Strait Regional Authority.
The five major island groups of the Torres Strait include:
claim to 40,000 km² of sea between Cape York Peninsula and Papua New Guinea. This was the largest native title claim in Australia's history.
Torres Strait Islands
The Torres Strait Islands are a group of at least 274 small islands which lie in Torres Strait, the waterway separating far northern continental Australia's Cape York Peninsula and the island of New Guinea but Torres Strait Island known and Recognize as Nyumaria.The islands are mostly part of...
.The TSRA 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. The authority was established in 1994. The TSRA was setup to replace the activities that were previously conducted by the abolished Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission was the Australian Government body through which Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders were formally involved in the processes of government affecting their lives...
. Nearly two thirds of the authority's funds are spent on employment programs. Most of the remaining funding is spent on housing programs.
The TSRA is part of the Territory Coalition, which is trying to gain official Territory status for the Torres Strait Islands. The plan would see the TSRA and local governments in the area abolished.
The islands
The Torres Strait Islands lie to the north of Tropical QueenslandTropical Queensland
Tropical Queensland is region of the state of Queensland, Australia that lies north of latitude 23.5 degrees South in the tropical latitude.It contains the Tropical North Queensland including the Far North Queensland, North Queensland and the Mackay Region as well as the Gulf Country in the west...
's Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula is a large remote peninsula located in Far North Queensland at the tip of the state of Queensland, Australia, the largest unspoilt wilderness in northern Australia and one of the last remaining wilderness areas on Earth...
and comprise 274 small islands, of which 17 are inhabited, located in Torres Strait
Torres Strait
The Torres Strait is a body of water which lies between Australia and the Melanesian island of New Guinea. It is approximately wide at its narrowest extent. To the south is Cape York Peninsula, the northernmost continental extremity of the Australian state of Queensland...
which separates Australia and Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
(PNG). Each island community elects a member to the Torres Strait Regional Authority.
Thursday Island (Waiben) and Horn Island (Nurupai) are the most well-known of the Torres Strait Islands. Activities on the islands are quite traditional, with fishing being the major economic activity. To travel to the remote islands (other than Thursday and Horn Islands) permission is required from the Torres Strait Regional Authority.
The five major island groups of the Torres Strait include:
- Northern Division (Boigu, Dauan, Saibai)
- Eastern Islands (Darnley, Murray, Stephen)
- Western Division (St. Pauls, Kubin, Badu, Mabuiag)
- Central Division (Yorke, Coconut, Warraber, Yam)
- Southern Division (TI and Inner Islands, NPA and Mainland Australia)
History
Together with the Island Co-ordinating Council (ICC) the TSRA has been active in implementing community based management strategies. The adoption of a Marine Strategy for the monitoring and management of dugong and turtle populations in the seas around the islands was undertaken in 1999. In 2006, successful lobby by the authority and the ICC resulted in the granting of $300,000 from the Federal Government to study the risks of climate change on the six largest Torres Strait Islands. In 2010, after a nine year legal battle, the TSRA made a successful native titleNative title
Native title is the Australian version of the common law doctrine of aboriginal title.Native title is "the recognition by Australian law that some Indigenous people have rights and interests to their land that come from their traditional laws and customs"...
claim to 40,000 km² of sea between Cape York Peninsula and Papua New Guinea. This was the largest native title claim in Australia's history.
External links
- Torres Strait Regional Authority
- Australian Govt - TRSE website with links to resorts, island, links and details of Gab Titui Cultural Centre.
- Details of individual islands and local administration
- Flag of the TSRA and map