Organisation Chart
Formation
The TSRA is a Commonwealth Authority which was established on 1 July 1994 under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989, now known as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005 (ATSI Act 2005). It is the leading Commonwealth representative body for Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people living in the Torres Strait. The TSRA consists of an elected arm and an administrative arm. The elected arm is comprised of 20 elected representatives who are Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people living in the Torres Strait region. Seventeen TSRA Members are Island Councillors elected under the Local Government Act 1993 (Qld), and three TSRA Members are elected under Division 5 of the ATSI Act 2005. Members of the TSRA elect a Chairperson, a Deputy Chairperson and an Alternate Deputy Chairperson. A General Manager is responsible for the TSRA’s administration and staffing. The TSRA also performs separate functions under the Native Title Act 1993 as the Native Title Representative Body (NTRB) for the Torres Strait Region. The TSRA is required under section 142D of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005 to formulate and implement a plan to guide the progress of the Torres Strait region. This plan, known as the Torres Strait Development Plan, is updated every four years to be consistent with the term of the TSRA Board. In 2008 - 2009 the TSRA finalised the Torres Strait Development Plan 2009 - 2013, the fourth development plan since the establishment of the TSRA. The plan outlines seven new or revised TSRA program components: Culture, Art and Heritage; Economic Development; Environmental Management; Governance and Leadership; Healthy Communities; Native Title and Safe Communities. Each of these programs has a number of desired outcomes and associated benefits that are linked to the COAG Closing the Gap for Indigenous disadvantage goals; and the whole-of-Torres Strait region and government visionary document, the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area Regional Plan 2009 - 2029
Enabling Legislation
The enabling legislation as stated in Section 142, Part 3A Division 1 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005 (ATSI Act 2005), is as follows:
(1) A Torres Strait Regional Authority is established.
(2) The TSRA:
(a) is a body corporate, with perpetual succession; and (b) is to have a common seal; and (c) may acquire, hold and dispose of real and personal property; and (d) may sue and be sued in its corporate name.
(3) The common seal of the TSRA is to be kept in such custody as the TSRA directs and must not be used except as authorised by the TSRA.
(4) All courts, judges and persons acting judicially must:
(a) take judicial notice of the imprint of the common seal of the TSRA appearing on a document; and (b) presume that the imprint was duly affixed.
Note: The Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997, applies to the TSRA. That Act deals with matters relating to Commonwealth Authorities, including reporting and accountability, banking and investment, and conduct of officers.
Statutory Appointments
The TSRA General Manager is the only position within TSRA to be appointed by the Minister, in accordance to Section 144L(1)(a) of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005. The current General Manager, Mr Wayne See Kee, was appointed by the Hon. Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs for a period of five years which commenced on 30 June 2010. Acting General Manager appointments since 1 July 2010 are: Mr Damian Miley, for the period 20-31 December 2010. Mr John Ramsay, for the period 1-15 January 2011.