Torres Strait Regional Authority
TSRA
1 July 1994 – present
Statutory authority, governed by a board elected by the communities of the Torres Strait, that represents Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people living in the region and delivers Commonwealth programs there.
How it came into existence
Established on 1 July 1994 by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Amendment Act 1993, which inserted provisions for it into the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989; it took over ATSIC's functions in the Torres Strait region and replaced ATSIC's Torres Strait Regional Council.
- ATSIC programs in the Torres Strait region
- Torres Strait Regional Council
Legislation: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005 (formerly the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989)
Changes during its life
- 24 March 2005Its enabling Act was renamed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005 when ATSIC was abolished.
- 18 September 2013Moved from the Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs portfolio to the Prime Minister and Cabinet portfolio.
Main functions
- Representation of Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people in the region
- Economic development and business funding
- Housing and community infrastructure
- Culture, art and heritage
- Native title and fisheries
- Environmental management and ranger programs
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
- Type of body
- Corporate Commonwealth entity
- Portfolio
- Prime Minister and Cabinet
- Accountable authority
- Members of TSRA – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005 sections 142 and 142R
- ABN
- 57 155 285 807
Lineage
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Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance)
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to the latest release (30 June 2026))