Torres Strait Islanders' fear over $200m Chinese fishery handshake with PNG...[Military Ambition?]

ABC Far North

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By Kristy Sexton-McGrath

Posted TueTuesday 15 DecDecember 2020 at 5:51pm, updated 6ddays ago

The Torres Shire Mayor Vonda Malone says having a large, Chinese-owned fishery could change life for Torres Strait Islanders.

Torres Strait Islander leaders in Far North Queensland say they are "incredibly nervous" about China's plan to build a fish processing plant on their doorstep, and are seeking urgent talks with the Australian Government.

Key points:

China has signed an MOU with PNG to build a $200 million fishing facility on Daru Island

Torres Strait Islanders say they are "very nervous" about the Chinese setting up on their doorstep 

There are calls to review the Torres Strait Treaty, which allows PNG nationals to fish in Australian waters

China's ministry of commerce has announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Papua New Guinea to build a $200 million "comprehensive multi-functional fishery industrial park" on Daru Island in PNG's Western Province.

The proposed fishery is a six hour boat-ride to Thursday Island, just off the northern-most tip of Australia.

Torres Shire Mayor Vonda Malone, who is based on Thursday Island, said the prospect of the Chinese moving into the region was "very, very concerning".

"We have to stand up and voice our concerns about it because it will be on our doorstep. It will affect our communities, our people, our families, our resources," Ms Malone said.

"We are dealing with a country that does not have the same values as us."

Torres Shire Council Mayor Vonda Malone says she is not convinced the Chinese development will be a fishery at all.(ABC Far North: Charlie McKillop)

She said she was "not convinced" the multi-million-dollar development would be a fishery at all, given there were few fish in the area.

"It's a considerable investment there. Our community members are very worried," Ms Malone said.

"The talk is 'why are they investing so much'?

"There must be more to this than we are being made aware of."

Ms Malone said the area around Daru, one of the few Torres Strait Islands governed by PNG rather than Australia, was not known for its fish stocks.

She said the Chinese could use the Torres Strait Treaty — where Papua New Guineans from more than a dozen villages could fish in Australian waters — to "vacuum-up" fish.

Daru Island is located in the Torres Strait less than 200 kilometres from the Australian mainland.(Google Maps)

"The Torres Strait has invested a considerable amount into fishery management and that's been in play for over 10 years now, " Ms Malone said.

"With a superpower like China entering into our space, there are so many questions about how those resources are going to be managed between small-scale fisheries and large commercial ventures, and that's going to have a huge impact on the ground.

"The local fishermen, they only deal with their own little vessels.

"They need to have the ability to have a catch to sustain their businesses and their families, compared to having someone like the Chinese Government with large commercial vessels that can openly plunder our waters."

It is a view shared by Far North Queensland Federal MP Warren Entsch, whose electorate encompasses the Torres Strait.

"They're going to rape and pillage this, they're going to vacuum-clean these reefs," Mr Entsch said.

Calls to review Treaty

The Torres Strait Sea and Land Council Gur A Baradharaw Kod represents traditional inhabitants throughout the island communities.

Chairman Ned David said he was concerned the Chinese could have ulterior motives.

"The alarm bells are going. This is the main conversation piece for everyone," Mr David said.

"From our fisherman to community people, this is a development that has people really, really nervous."

The "Our Islands, Our Home" campaign is releasing a series of videos to garner support for the Torres Straight Islanders human rights complaint to the United Nations. 

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He said although the fishery was an MOU at this stage, the community "had to take it seriously."

He also said it was time to review the Torres Strait Treaty, where Papua New Guineans are allowed to take 25 per cent of the total allowable catch of rock lobsters within Australian waters.

"We need to be renegotiating this treaty arrangement to guarantee our authority and protection," Mr David said.

"It should be put to zero in terms of access to our border, if the Chinese move into the area."