Media Release: Mayors welcome establishment of NQ JOCTF

Published on 20 February 2026

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

20 February 2026 

Torres Shire Council and Torres Strait Island Regional Council Mayors welcome the official opening of the North Queensland Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (NQ JOCTF)

Torres Strait Island Regional Council (TSIRC) Mayor Philemon Mosby and Torres Shire Council (TSC) Mayor Cr Elsie Seriat attended the official opening of the North Queensland Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (NQ JOCTF) today, convened by the Australian Federal Police. 

The establishment of the NQ JOCTF marks an important milestone in strengthening coordinated efforts to address serious and organised crime across Northern Australia, including the Torres Strait region. The Taskforce will operate under a national framework as a fully integrated, multi-agency capability, bringing together personnel from the Australian Federal Police and the Queensland Police Service, with support from the Australian Border Force and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission. 

The Torres Strait plays a critical role in Australia’s northern border security, and, for our communities, the impacts of cross-border crime are not abstract — they are real and deeply felt. Our region faces ongoing challenges associated with people smuggling, drug trafficking, illegal fishing and other forms of transnational criminal activity. These activities threaten not only community safety, but also cultural integrity, public health, economic stability and the wellbeing of our families. 

The formation of this Taskforce follows months of engagement between agencies, local leaders and community representatives. It aligns strongly with Council’s strategic approach of “Look, Listen and Adapt”, recognising that strategies must be shaped with communities, informed by local knowledge, and responsive to the unique geographic, cultural and governance landscape of the Torres Strait. 

Effective enforcement in our region cannot be delivered through a one-size-fits-all model. It must reflect our proximity to international borders, our connection to Sea Country and the lived experience of our people. The NQ JOCTF represents a meaningful step toward ensuring that national capability is strengthened by local insight and that operational responses are both intelligence-led and culturally informed. 

We welcome the establishment of this Taskforce and the strengthened collaboration it brings. We are encouraged by the shared commitment demonstrated by all participating agencies and look forward to continuing to work together to disrupt organised criminal networks and protect the safety and wellbeing of our communities.  

PDF Version Joint Statement on Establishment of the NQ JOCTF(PDF, 625KB)