Strait community ‘shouldn’t be living like this’, Premier told

Five Cape communities are getting “only two houses” built every three years as severe overcrowding takes its toll, the Premier has been told on a visit to the far north.

A severe housing shortage in Queensland’s far north is having a “ripple” impact on community disadvantage, with a mayor calling on the Premier to listen and act on the major concern amid a trip to the Torres Strait and the Cape.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, on Thursday Island for the first meeting of community cabinet in the region since Labor returned to power, promised transplanting cabinet into the administrative hub of the Torres Strait would bring about tangible results.

Ms Palaszczuk on Monday sat down with councils and mayors of the area, noting the issues raised – including the spiking cost of freight, cost of living pressures, housing and tourism opportunities – were “complex”.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at hospital works on Thursday Island.

Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council Mayor Patricia Yusia, who travelled to Thursday Island to meet the Premier, said severe overcrowding were among the major issues affecting the five Cape communities within the council’s borders.

“If I was to build 160 houses today, 160 houses would be filled, let’s put it that way,” Cr Yusia said.

“But we are only getting two houses every three years, or one house every three years for community, and we have five communities.

“Overcrowding has a rippling effect on social determinants … domestic violence, children can’t study at school. This is 2022, we shouldn’t be living in this situation.”

Cr Yusia said she wanted Ms Palaszczuk to “take it seriously” and work in partnership with the federal government to find a funding solution.

Ms Palaszczuk said the state government would “definitely” be speaking with their federal counterparts, noting her trip to Thursday Island came just weeks after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit.

“There is now a real opportunity for us to work in more close collaboration, especially when it comes to remote Indigenous housing,” she said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk meets some Thursday Island locals.

Asked if there was a framework or targets in place to ensure taxpayer-funded trip produced tangible results, Ms Palaszczuk assured things would be put into motion but pointed to Cook MP Cynthia Lui as the government’s accountability measure.

It is expected the government has come to the Torres Strait and the Cape pre-armed with announcements for the region, with Ms Palaszczuk and Health Minister Yvette D’Ath announcing a new CT scanner would be installed at the Thursday Island Hospital early next year.

The announcement to install the $2.14m piece of medical equipment came during a tour of the hospital, which is undergoing a $46m revamp.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey announced $3.9m to replace 37 safety beacons, including buoys, right through the Torres Strait.

Police Minister Mark Ryan is expected to announce on Tuesday a contract for a volunteer marine rescue boat to be based on Thursday Island.

Ms Palaszczuk is expected to tour a school and community centre on the island on Tuesday before the cabinet meeting.

It is expected she will then travel to a community in the Cape on Wednesday while her ministers fan across the region.