COURIER MAIL -
TORRES Strait leaders want the top of Australia as a stand-alone territory with greater autonomy.
Islanders are looking beyond simple regional government models, according to former Greater Autonomy Task Force co-ordinator Ned David.
``I don't think anyone need feel threatened by notions that there is a group of islanders, currently part of a sovereign nation, that are seeking to secede,'' Mr David said.
``The case here is for people to take notice that there is a group of people, who are a distinct race of people, with genuine thoughts about having an administrative and political structure that better suits their context and will add value to Australian society.''
A Torres Strait Territory could govern some 9000 people on 38 islands in the waters between mainland Australia and Papua New Guinea, plus five Cape York communities.
A Torres government - funded in part by the federal and state governments - could then take responsibility for a range of services from health to education, policing to transport.
``There are a number of models around the world you can draw best practice from,'' Mr David said. ``The Norfolk Island model is something worth looking at, (as well as) the ACT.''
Many islanders are frustrated by policy decisions made thousands of kilometres away in Brisbane and Canberra. Many question the layers of bureaucracy in the region, looking to localise and simplify decision-making on issues from law and order to PNG nationals using the local health system.
``The biggest killer for us is the tyranny of distance. Agencies need to get instructions from HQ and that's at the other end of the state,'' Mr David said. He suggested the Torres Strait would have the highest presence of federal and state agencies of any remote area.
That was justified in some instances, given the strait's location, but should be evaluated to see whether service delivery was meeting the demands of this complex setting.
``It just makes sense that you have some level of (local) authority to make decisions, well-informed decisions, because you live in the area. It would also cut down on the time we have to wait for some decisions,'' Mr David said.
A Torres Strait Territory Coalition is canvassing island communities to gauge support for a new government, while Torres leaders last month voiced a number of concerns to a Senate committee hearing on Thursday Island.
Queensland Senator Russell Trood, who heads the inquiry, is sympathetic to the Torres Strait communities' frustrations but does not believe a territory would be sustainable. ``I know there are, from time to time, sentiments expressed about self-governance and some kind of independence but in my view it's not a widespread preference,'' he said. ``I think it's very unlikely the committee would consider that.''
Premier Anna Bligh said a Torres Territory was a matter for the Commonwealth.
``But I would be very sorry to see the Torres Strait separate from Queensland,'' she said. ``There are significant economic benefits for the people of the Torres Strait being part of a resource-rich state.''