Our " Open Border " !

Back in the grim days of the Cold War, crossing a border in Europe was a strictly controlled event, watched over by men with guns.   This contrasted with the custom - that still prevails today - of our " open border " with our nearest neighbour, Papua New Guinea.

Torres Strait is a narrow stretch of water between Cape York and Papua New Guinea and it is dotted with numerous islands.   There is a constant inter-flow of the citizens from both countries who visit and trade with one another - and the inspection of passports or visas is virtually nonexistent.    We have customs people in the area, but this interchange has been the accepted system since the white settlement of Australia and in many cases Papua New Guinea citizens come here for medical treatment that is simply not available in their home country.

That is about to change.   A trickle of asylum seekers has started to use Torres Strait as their entry point to this country and the fact that we are sending new arrivals to Manus island is causing the people smugglers to revise their methods. Two Somalis were recently caught on their way across the strait and it is expected that this trickle will become a flood.

There is an air service to Horn island, one of the biggest islands in the strait and as this is Australian territory, no passports or visas are required when booking a flight on a plane.   It is therefore possible to legally fly from Horn island to any other destination in Australia.

It seems that the days of this " open border " policy are numbered.  The people smugglers see it as a weakness in our defences, and they will exploit it to make money.  We will have no option other than strict control of this northern border - and that will see the end of the free and easy interchange between the indiginous people of both countries.

Sadly, it will introduce tensions between those on either side of the border where this did not exist in the past.   The blurred " nationality " issue will sharpen and it is inevitable that the need for passports and visas will bring the intrusion of a new bureaucracy into " Paradise " !

Our " Golden North " will still be a land of azure waters, unspoilt beaches and vast tourist potential, but the " dead hand " of controlling the movement of people will introduce a new and intimidating culture.

The locals are about to find that a " fenceless " land - is now two lands with a new dividing wall !