Torres Strait leaders welcome Operation BROADSTAFF – call for a 25‑year security plan, permanent capability and genuine partnership
Torres Strait leaders have welcomed today’s announcement by the Minister for Home Affairs that the Australian Border Force (ABF) is launching Operation BROADSTAFF – a new multi‑agency operation to combat illegal foreign fishing in northern Queensland and the Torres Strait.
In a joint statement, Mayor Mosby (Torres Strait Island Regional Council – TSIRC), Mayor Seriat, OAM (Torres Shire Council – TSC), Mayor Poi Poi (Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council – NPARC), Chair David (Gudang/Baiyangu/Kaurareg – GBK) and Chair Nona (Torres Strait Regional Authority – TSRA) said the operation is a necessary step – but warned the Commonwealth must stop relying on reactive responses and commit to a long‑term, locally‑designed security plan for the Torres Strait.
— Mayor Mosby (TSIRC): “We welcome Operation BROADSTAFF because it recognises what our communities have been saying: illegal foreign fishing is impacting our livelihoods, our Sea Country and our sense of safety.”
— Mayor Mosby (TSIRC): “Anything done for the Torres Strait must be done in consultation with the Torres Strait Regional Leadership Group. It is an affront that this response has been designed without us as regional leaders.”
— Mayor Seriat, OAM (TSC): “Communities want to see a consistent presence on the water and timely briefings. Safety is built on visibility, continuity and trust.”
— Mayor Poi Poi (NPARC): “We believe this pressure will only increase over time. The response must be permanent and properly resourced, not episodic.”
— Chair Nona (TSRA): “Our frontline communities should not be left carrying this burden alone. Border integrity is a Commonwealth responsibility, and it must be delivered in partnership with our people.”
— Chair David (GBK): “Sea Country is central to our culture and our economy. Protecting it requires sustained enforcement and genuine two‑way engagement with local leaders and communities.”
A 25‑year security plan – proactive, not reactive
The leaders said the Torres Strait cannot be protected through one‑off operations and short‑term surges. They are calling for a 25‑year plan that sets out enduring capability, infrastructure, local engagement and accountability to keep the region safe.
— Mayor Mosby (TSIRC): “We need a 25‑year plan for the security of the Torres Strait. Instead of being proactive, the Government continues to be reactive. Our Regional Leadership are fed up, and we want to enter into a real partnership with the Australian Government.”
The leaders said a long‑term plan must be co‑designed with the Torres Strait Regional Leadership Group and include sustained funding, permanently‑based assets, clear governance, and agreed measures of success over time.
Local leadership works – Canberra‑designed models don’t fit the Torres Strait
The leaders said effective security in the Torres Strait requires decision‑making and capability that is grounded in place and people. They said earlier approaches placed stronger emphasis on local people and leadership taking up key roles in managing regional security issues – and that principle must be restored.
— Mayor Mosby (TSIRC): “Between fifteen and twenty years ago, governments recognised the importance of local leadership for security management in the Torres Strait. A Canberra‑based approach is ineffective for our islands and waters. To achieve security here, you must collaborate with us and build capability alongside us, respecting our island way by looking closely at what’s happening locally, listening to our people, and adapting your model to fit our needs.”
— Chair Nona (TSRA): “Our communities see what is happening first. A genuine partnership means shared planning, shared priorities and shared accountability — with local knowledge at the center, not an afterthought.”
Community safety and border integrity
The leaders said Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area communities measure safety by what they can see and rely on: sustained patrol presence, timely updates to local leadership, and swift enforcement that deters repeat incursions.
They said the scale and frequency of foreign vessel incursions being reported across Zenadth Kes is unprecedented for many communities and is escalating fear about border integrity and personal safety.
— Mayor Seriat, OAM (TSC): “This is not only about fishing. It is about border integrity. When illegal vessels enter our waters, our communities have no way of knowing who is on board, what their intentions are, or what risks they may pose. That uncertainty is itself a safety issue.”
The leaders said weak or inconsistent border management increases the risk of unvetted persons entering Australian territory outside normal screening processes, further heightening anxiety in frontline communities.
— Chair David (GBK): “If boats can come through repeatedly, then people can too. That exposes our communities to unknowns — including the possibility of individuals with serious criminal histories or other risks — and it compounds the insecurity our people are already living with.”
Permanent capability, based in‑region
The leaders said Operation BROADSTAFF must be the bridge to a systematic, permanent posture to manage maritime security risks – including illegal foreign fishing – across a vast and remote region.
They said a permanent capability should include permanently‑based assets, properly staffed and resourced facilities, and clear governance arrangements so local leaders and communities receive consistent briefings within operational constraints.
— Mayor Poi Poi (NPARC): “A permanent presence is not a luxury – it is what a porous border demands. Our region is a frontline, and we need frontline capability based here with our communities.”
— Mayor Seriat, OAM (TSC): “A long‑term approach must strengthen enforcement, protect Sea Country, and give our communities confidence that reporting leads to action — with feedback and transparency wherever possible.”
What the Government announced today
In the Minister’s media release, the ABF said Operation BROADSTAFF will be a multi‑agency operation to deter, detect, disrupt and take enforcement action against illegal foreign fishers, complementing existing programs and local engagement.
The Minister also reported that since 1 January 2026 there have been 10 interdictions of suspected illegal fishing vessels in northern Queensland and the Torres Strait, enabled by increased surveillance and additional on‑water assets in the region.
— Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke (Australian Government): “This operation is a response to illegal foreign fishing activity in the Torres Strait and is in partnership with the local communities we’ve spoken with who see and feel the impact.”
— Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke (Australian Government): “Foreign fishers who operate in Australian waters illegally risk losing their haul, their equipment, their vessel, and their freedom.”
What leaders are calling for now
The leaders are seeking commitments that Operation BROADSTAFF will lead to a lasting uplift in capability and a long‑term security plan, including:
• Formal engagement through the Torres Strait Regional Leadership Group to co‑design a 25‑year Torres Strait Security Plan
• A permanent, locally‑informed maritime security posture for the Torres Strait, with assets based in‑region and maintained year‑round
• Sustained patrol boat coverage across known hotspots and transit corridors, supported by increased surveillance
• Resourcing and staffing certainty for key facilities to support enforcement and response across the region
• Regular, scheduled briefings to TSIRC, TSC, NPARC, GBK and TSRA leadership on trends, risks and outcomes (within operational limits)
• A two‑way reporting model: communities can report safely and receive feedback on actions taken, so reporting strengthens trust
• Clear measures of success over time (presence, interdictions, enforcement outcomes and deterrence indicators)
— Mayor Mosby (TSIRC): “Our frontline communities spanning from Boigu, Dauan, Saibai, Mabuiag, Badu and Ugar need more than reassurance. They need a permanent plan that keeps our waters secure and protects our social, cultural and economic rights.”
