Queensland's northern outpost is a gateway for gun-runners and drugs, and locals are feeling the stress of sharing a border with Papua New Guinea. Bruce McMahon reports on problems in paradise.

 

AUSTRALIA'S top gate is riddled with holes, allowing drugs, guns and disease to drift south from near-neighbour Papua New Guinea, say Torres Strait Islanders.

 

Security is compromised, in part, by the Australia-PNG Treaty, which allows traditional trade movements between the countries. But policy decisions made in Brisbane or Canberra do not always work in this unique environment.

 

The drug trade - mainly in cannabis and often for guns - is one of many issues confronting Torres Shire Mayor Pedro Stephen.

 

``There are so many holes in the policing net that need to be sewn up,'' he says.

 

``(The agencies) are worried about the big fish.

 

``We in the community worry about every fish, it is the small fish that does the biggest damage to our community.''

 

A Senate inquiry, hearing evidence on Thursday Island, has spotlighted a range of concerns - from pressures on Queensland's health services treating diseased PNG nationals, to gaps in policing the 133 islands, to freight costs in this remote region of some 8000 people.

 

Inquiry chairman Senator Russell Trood recognises the Torres Strait is a community at the crossroads.

 

``My sense is that the agencies and the community have got somewhere between two and three years to make arrangements that are going to be necessary to manage the kinds of emerging challenges,'' Senator Trood said.

 

He also said he was struck by the extent of the challenges.

 

``In some respects, none of them is massive or beyond capability, but there are a whole series of issues already causing a deal of frustration,'' he said.

 

``They're causing frustration because (they have) been issues of concern to them for a long period but the community has struggled to have its voice heard.''

 

Increasing numbers of PNG nationals, often with tuberculosis, are presenting for treatment on outer islands and being transferred to Thursday Island.

 

Local Darema Bon says he sees PNG nationals every time he goes to the hospital and recently waited two hours to get treatment for his son.

 

``The (PNG) nationals get to Saibai with traditional passes. If they think they're real crook they send them here and they take up spaces,'' Mr Darema said. ``Sometimes, when they're not keeping an eye on them (at the hospital), they sneak into town, walk around here as if they're Australians.''

 

Among concerns of diseases spreading south are a drug-resistant strain of tuberculosis, and leprosy.

Queensland Health spends close to $7 million a year on treating PNG nationals for disease, trauma and births.

 

Health's acting deputy general of policy, strategy and resources, Bronwyn Nardi, admitted there were ``some horrendous things coming out of Papua New Guinea''.

 

Last Wednesday, 60 per cent of Thursday Island hospital's 24 adult beds were occupied by PNG nationals.

Ms Nardi said it was important for both countries to ensure PNG nationals received proper treatment for diseases currently contained in Australia.

 

Senator Trood understands some may argue this remote area, with a small population, should not expect more than other remote Australian areas.

 

``But it is a unique maritime environment, more particularly it is our frontline - the point where Australian international boundaries come in contact with another country's border. It is ... much more significant than other parts.''