Australian police look north

Saibai Island – The Queensland government has asked the Commonwealth to help it build Australia’s northernmost police station on a site just four kilometres from the Papua New Guinea coastline.

Police Minister Jo-Ann Miller has written to the Federal Government explaining her proposal for a Saibai Island police station, which would also house Australian Federal Police, Border Force and Immigration officials.

The ABC accompanied the minister when she visited Saibai Island to view the proposed site for the police station.

“We want to make sure that the funding is available so that the people in the northern area of the Torres Strait can feel that their communities are safe,” she said.

“We’d like to see this particular building be erected sooner rather than later.

“What it means is that we can have permanent police here on Saibai Island.”

Assistant Commissioner Paul Taylor said the Queensland Police Service (QPS) supported the minister’s proposal.

“The policing up here is about a positive engagement. That’s vital when you look at our proximity to the Papua New Guinea coast,” he said.

Water police from Thursday Island now patrol the region for a week at a time, sending general duties officers and detectives to the communities when necessary.

Community liaison officers are also based on the outer islands of Torres Strait.

It is a large area to cover, with authorities monitoring an estimated 250,000 boat trips a year.

Many Papua New Guineans trade with the richer islanders under a special agreement that recognises a long history between the people.

Senior Constable Chris Mosby said it could be a dangerous journey between islands, where conditions could change quickly.

“Like this morning – it was calm and this afternoon the winds and current have really picked up,” he said.

Last year, authorities conducted 68 search and rescue operations in the region, with some costing up to $250,000.

Australian Border Force inspector Chris Holzheimer said his officers targeted more sinister trade.

“We’re finding the guns are being exported to Papua New Guinea for payments for narcotics coming into the country,” he said.

“The extent of that we can’t really talk about – it’s operationally sensitive.” - ABC