Health Minister urges Torres Strait communities to stand behind their health workers

Health Minister Stephen Robertson today urged Torres Strait residents to get behind their local health workers and provide them with a safe living and working environment.

Mr Robertson’s call comes after two recent incidents, one on Mer Island and one on Boigu Island, in which the safety of health workers was put at risk.

“I’m calling on all people living in Torres Strait communities to get 100 per cent behind their health workers, and give them peace of mind that they are in a safe community and will be well looked after,” Mr Robertson said.

“The vast majority of Torres Strait Islanders are wonderful people, but there are clearly some individuals who are making it hard on the community and on our health workers.

“Those people need to be pulled into line, whether it be by the police or by the communities themselves.

“There has to be responsibility on the part of local communities to deal with these matters.”

Mr Robertson said a man was facing break and enter charges following an October 17 incident on Mer Island in which a nurse allegedly discovered a man in her dwelling at around 2am.

He said the nurse was unharmed and senior Queensland Health staff and police were immediately flown to Mer Island to investigate the incident, with all affected staff receiving support and counselling.

“It needs to be stressed that there is no known security issue at Queensland Health accommodation on Mer Island,” Mr Robertson said.

“All of the locks were fixed and master-keyed as part of upgraded security works undertaken earlier this year and Queensland Health has no outstanding requests for security items on Mer Island.”

Mr Robertson said Queensland Health evacuated a nurse, a health worker and her young child following threats made against the staff on Boigu Island on October 21.

He said Thursday Island Police and the Torres and Northern Peninsula Area Health Service District were notified by the registered nurse at Boigu Primary Health Centre of threats against health care staff on the island.

“The nurse indicated that community feedback was that one man’s aggression and anger was escalating after several days of drinking,” Mr Robertson said.

MEDIA: Martin Philip 3225 2680