Traditional travel between Torres Strait and Papua New Guinea villages resumes after two-and-a-half years

Free movement between Australia's northernmost islands and coastal villages in Papua New Guinea has resumed after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus. Key points: Traditional cultural travel under the Torres Strait Treaty was suspended in March 2020 Inhabitants of the Torres Strait and coastal PNG villages have agreed to its resumption Health authorities say island communities are highly vaccinated and medical services are prepared The Torres Strait Treaty allows inhabitants of certain islands and 13 PNG villages to move across the international border using permits, instead of visas or passports, for traditional cultural activities. The Torres Strait Island Regional Council and inhabitants of the PNG villages agreed to resume traditional travel as of October 19. Spirit of the treaty Mr Lui said people wanting to travel between the nations for reasons other than barter and trade would need to "go through the proper channels and get passports", while Torres Strait Islanders agreed to a request from the PNG inhabitants not to travel to Daru under the traditional permit system. Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service executive director of medical services Marlow Coates said vaccination rates across the Torres Strait for those aged 12 and over were "in the high 80 per cent" range.