By MARK BOUSEN

Urgent action is needed to deal with the ever-increasing health issues being brought into the Torres Strait from PNG, TSRA Chairman Toshie Kris says, citing the current Swine Flu epidemic as a potentially serious problem.

"The issue is real and we need to look at how we can deal with it on the other side (Western Province).

"We need to treat cases there and reduce the cross-border movements into the Torres Strait.

"We can’t turn people away who come over for health reasons, but the pressure on our health services is increasing each year."
Mr Kris said the the current Swine Flu epidemic had the potential to cause serious problems in the Torres Strait if brought in from PNG.

"It’s being handled very well in present form in the Torres Strait, but, if it comes in from Western Province, I don’t think we’ll ever get rid of it. It’ll cause huge problems.

"We’ve had to quarantine communities in the past for illnesses, such as dengue fever, which have come over the border.

"We could well have to do that again if Swine Flu was to come in through the back door; we’d be getting from both ends of the Torres Strait."

Mr Kris said there were many additional problems to be addressed in conjunction with the cross-border movements.

"New infrastructure is needed on some of our islands to look after our own people, so the health issues need to be treated on the Western Province side.

"To compound the problem, we have seen an increase in the numbers of people flown from West Province to Thursday Island for treatment - that’s taking people outside the Free Movement Treaty zone as Thursday Island sits outside the zone.

"We talk about putting infrastructure on the ground, but the other piece of the puzzle is that Thursday Island Hospital at times has up to dozen people from Western Province flown in as patients, with such problems as injuries, babies, pregnancies. They come right into Thursday Island."

Mr Kris said it must be remembered the Outer Island Health Centres do not look after the really hard cases, such as broken limbs.

"They would normally send them to Thursday Island, whether they are from the local community or from across the border.

"We can’t turn them away, but the Australian Government needs to look at how the funding which given to PNG is spent. The cross-border movement needs to be reduced and, therefore, reduce the threat to Australia itself."
Mr Kris says the TSRA is working closely with the relevant authorities to address the issue.

He also fears the problem will not be resolved unless the issues across the border are addressed properly.

"We are dealing with people on the coastline of Western Province where any infrastructure on the ground would be put. That would then attract people from inland communities who would not have any of those facilities.

"That will then place huge pressure on those facilities, and could mean people will continue to cross the border because of the pressure on the Western Province facilities."

Mr Kris said the TSRA had told the Health Issues Committee to develop a strategic plan to minimise cross-border movements.

"There are 14 Western Province communities, plus another 16 communities outside the zone, using those facilities. There are some real issues in PNG which need to be addressed and which are on our doorstep and only an arm’s length away from mainland Australia.

"And it needs to happen now."
Mr Kris suggested Island tradesmen could help build the Western Province facilities if there is a shortage of tradesmen.

"They would also have to look at local labourers as the facilities need to be maintained.

"The issue hasn’t gone away and is getting worse, but it boils down to basic environmental infrastructure, such as running water, taps, toilets, health centres and some law enforcement to protect the property.

"Everyone needs to look at the numbers of people moving under the free movement treaty by employing local people to monitor it - and where the money will come from is beyond you and me."

Mr Kris said the Australian Government gives PNG huge amounts of money each year to support the whole country,

"The TSRA is operating on $52m a year, and looking after about 80% of the people movement problem.

"(TSIRC) Mayor Fred Gela has previously said community police officers should have Queensland Police powers and authority to carry out law-and-order issues, such as movement from PNG. By the time, the Queensland Police arrive, the people have gone back home.

"Community Police need to be promoted to State Police Officer status."