Cash for Torres Strait flows from Thursday Island cabinet visit

An avalanche of investment in the Torres Strait has come from a historic meeting of the Queensland cabinet at Thursday Island this week. What was announced by the Premier this week.

AN avalanche of investment in the Torres Strait has come from a historic meeting of the Queensland cabinet at Thursday Island this week.

On Tuesday Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk flanked by key ministers and Cook MP Cynthia Lui visited Tagai State College on Thursday Island ahead of the first Torres Strait cabinet meeting since the Labor leader was elected in 2015.

A new $2.14m CT scanner for Thursday Island Hospital, $3.9m for 37 new Torres Strait navigation beacons, $4m for an upgraded Horn Island marine facility was announced as the Premier cut the ribbon on a $5.28m Thursday Island Neighbourhood Centre.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk with students from Tagai State College on Thursday Island. Picture: Supplied

In a path to treaty announcement a significant land parcel is expected to pass into the control of the Gudang/Yadhaykenu, Atambaya and Angkamithi people during a ceremony to be held on Wednesday.

Last month the Palaszczuk government in a leap toward reconciliation announced the launch of a formal path to treaty through the release of a response to the Treaty Advancement Committee Report.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s cabinet for the first time will meet at Thursday Island this week. Picture: Peter Carruthers

“We have accepted all 22 of the report’s recommendations either in full or in principle,” she said at the time.

“Treaty is about finding a place where we can face up to our shared history and be truthful about all of it – good and bad – and build a future together where we value, trust, and respect each other.”

In a push to see Indigenous athletes represent Australia at the 2032 Olympic Games talent scouts of the Queensland Academy of Sport’s Youfor32 program were on the lookout at Thursday Island’s Tagai State College on Tuesday.

Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the Torres Strait was known for producing exceptional sporting talent.

“We want to see First Nations athletes from Torres Strait on Queensland’s green and gold runway to 2032 putting in medal-winning performances,” he said.

A $31m investment has been made at 17 Tagai State College sites throughout the Torres Strait Islands in a move Torres raised Cook MP Cynthia Lui applauded.

“(Investment is) critically important to help Torres kids have the best chance to empower themselves for a bright future,” she said.

The Torres Strait visit concludes Wednesday with a land handover celebration at Injinoo.

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Originally published as Cash for Torres Strait flows from Thursday Island cabinet visit