The Prime Minister, Hon Peter O'Neill CMG MP, will announce an eminent persons review of the Torres Strait border arrangement with the view to restore the traditional rights of Trans Fly villagers that were lost at independence.
"The borders that were imposed on Gulf people are unfair and we just want a fair go for our affected villages," PM O'Neill said. "When Australia drew the border map and boundary lines, Australia also acquired ownership and user rights that belonged to the Trans Fly villages. "These Torres Strait border arrangements extinguished the hunting and fishing rights of Trans Fly villages and left many communities with no income and a bleak future. "This is not fair and for 40 years no Government has ever stood up on behalf of Trans Fly villages. "The people affected by this treaty are from a culture that accessed these waters and islands for thousands of years, then they woke up one day to find this was taken away from them. "These rights have not been properly considered, so in our 40th year of independence it is time to seek that a wrong be corrected." PM O'Neill said he hopes the Australian Government takes heed of the plight of the Trans Fly villages and understands that reviewing this arrangement will not impact on the Australian economy or border security. "Restoring rights to the Trans Fly villages will empower thousands of village people to make a living from their traditional sea and land, with essentially no impact on the Australian economy." The Prime Minister said he will present a proposal to Cabinet to appoint the Committee of Eminent Persons to properly inquire and report on historical injustices relating to the Torres Strait Border and Border Treaty. "The findings of the Eminent Persons Committee will further form the basis for constructive dialogue to work together with the Australian Government as part of regular Border Review exercise under the existing Treaty," the Prime Minister said. "The existing Treaty does not cater for all Trans-Fly villages whose rights have been affected. Only some villages are known as 'Treaty villages' under the Treaty and others were unfairly omitted from the treaty processes. "The Treaty and the manner it has been applied must be reviewed to include all affected villages and remove its unjust effects. "I invite all affected villages to participate in this dialogue to determine the extent of their loss in the Torres Strait".
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