Remote Area Management

Torres Strait

The department’s North Queensland District has full-time officers based on Thursday Island who provide a full range of immigration services including visas issue, citizenship and residency applications.

These officers also manage a network of Movement Monitoring Officers (MMO), monitoring issues arising from the Torres Strait Treaty and the traditional flow of people in the Torres Strait. They make regular visits to the islands and participate in treaty discussions.

The MMOs are based on the 14 inhabited islands and play an important role in border protection. The MMO network operates as a dispersed group, integrated into local communities, providing considerable coverage throughout the Torres Strait. Not only are they experts in their local communities but they act as a conduit for wider community information. The MMOs work closely with island chairpersons and their community to manage the traditional flow of people and report on any other movement in the region.

Further information

See: Fact Sheet 72 Commonwealth Presence in the Torres Strait