Matt Smith (Leichhardt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

In October of 2025, Minister Julian Hill and I travelled to the Torres Strait. We did this to sit with Border Force, community leaders and elders to discuss illegal foreign fishing. We knew that, due to the success of Operation Leedstrum and Operation Luna, there would be a variety of push factors that may result in illegal fishing occurring in the Torres Strait. As a result of those initial meetings, we stood up extra resources, sending them up to the straits in December and January. Additional push factors, including harsh weather in the north-west of the country, have resulted in a larger influx than we at first anticipated. On Monday of last week, I met with the Commissioner of Border Force, Minister Burke and Minister Hill and requested further intervention. Today, Operation Broadstaff was launched.

I am saying this very clearly: Australian waters belong to Australians. We will not accept these incursions. Criminality in the waters of the Torres Strait will be met by the brave men and women of the Australian Border Force. You will lose your catch, you will lose your equipment and we might take your boat. This has been a response to the community, and I thank the members of the community within the Torres Strait and the NPA for their vigil and watching to alert us to these incursions. I want to let you all know that we are coming. Operation Broadstaff has begun.

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