Shadow Minister for Northern Australia, Senator Susan McDonald, has called on State and Federal Labor Governments to outline how and how quickly they plan to address reports of foreign-owned fishing vessels “raping” Torres Strait waters of seafood and pushing out Indigenous fishermen.

The Torres Strait fishermen say the foreign vessels are exceeding catch limits and crowding out the local operators.

They say that since Border Force patrol ships pulled out of the area during Covid, as many as 80 Chinese-sponsored commercial boats from PNG have been “raping” the area, taking crayfish and sea cucumber as well as protected dugong and turtles.

There are also reports of an increase in illegal vessels from Indonesia fishing Australia’s northern waters with impunity.

Senator McDonald said the situation made a mockery of the government’s approach to northern border security.

“This Labor Government has its priorities all wrong. It is obsessed with rushing through its radical agenda while these incursions are happening in our pristine Torres Strait waters,” she said.

“The whole of Northern Australia has been left feeling like an unwanted stepchild since this government took office – it’s not good enough.

“Authorities have acknowledged the Indigenous fishermen’s concerns and said patrols would be stepped up but there needs to be more urgency shown and a clear picture provided so we have confidence something will be done.”

Senator McDonald added increased foreign activity in the Strait raised questions about biosecurity and overfishing.

“Tuberculosis is a big concern for humans, and lumpy skin disease hitting cattle here from Indonesia would devastate our northern beef sector. And while Australian fishers operate under strict quotas and increasing regulation, it is appalling that foreign vessels can just take what they want,” she said.

“Queensland and Federal Labor must do more to protect and support the North.”