Mornington Island still in 'crisis' as residents claim taxpayer money being wasted
Two years on from a major audit into Mornington Island, residents say their quality of life has gone backwards. (ABC Northwest: Antoinette Raffau)
In short:
Two years after a major audit revealed glaring wastage on Mornington Island, residents say nothing has changed.
Five recent youth suicides have now ignited the community to demand a system-wide overhaul.
What's next?
Residents are calling for the expansion of culturally appropriate care and training programs designed to grow economic development in the region.
When Tali Tabuai arrived on Mornington Island in 2017, he saw a community on the brink.
"While I was here, there was a suicide … I was the first person and tried CPR," Mr Tabuai said.
"I fell into depression. There was literally no help."
Tali Tabuai was a first responder to a suicide when he first moved to Mornington Island. (Supplied. ABC Northwest)
Years later and despite millions in funding, residents say opportunities and quality of life on the island have become worse.
In the past two months, five young men in the community have committed suicide.
"The effect ripples through every layer of community life,"Mr Tubuai said.
"Most of the role models that they look up to … are fighting their own demons.
"There's no opportunities."
Millions spent but no results
With unemployment above 25 per cent and high rates of chronic illness, Mornington Island remains one of Australia's most disadvantaged communities.
But a 2023 KPMG audit found the problem was not a lack of funding.
Between 2018 and 2023, $326 million in state and federal money flowed into the community.
But according to the audit, its 1,100 residents saw no consistent improvements in health or quality of life.
A KPMG audit found millions in funding had made little improvement to health, education and employment outcomes. (Supplied. ABC Northwest)
The audit made 20 recommendations, including shifting away from costly fly-in fly-out health workers and investing in locally trained staff and programs that could drive economic empowerment.
Mr Tabuai said the recommendations had not been implemented.
"When the support comes, it's just very short-term. It's always fly-in fly-out and not culturally grounded,"he said.
"It'll be hard for a man to speak to a woman here … some of the men here, they've gone through traditional law.
"So there's a cultural barrier. They [residents] turn away from the services."
'Everything needs to change'
The audit, commissioned by the former Queensland government, showed roughly 80 per cent of funding was administered by the state.
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Fiona Simpson would not comment on how service delivery had changed since the audit, but said further funding was on the way.
"I am committed to working with local communities to improve quality of life," she said.
"I am currently consulting directly with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander local governments across Queensland to allocate further funds from our $108 million Closing the Gap Priorities Fund — of which $37 million has already been committed — to projects which will help to close the gap in areas of greatest need."
Kyle Yanner was in charge at the time of the 2023 audit and says it offered an opportunity for change. (ABC News: Leonie Mellor)
Former mayor and resident Kyle Yanner moved away late last year to take a carpentry apprenticeship in Kuranda.
He said funding on the island had been wasted on training programs such as drone accreditations, which he said did nothing for residents.
"They set a clear pathway to reform the community … it's been forgotten about," Mr Yanner said.
"We're going nowhere. We're a ship with a hole in it … everything needs to change.
"The programs are meaningless. They're purposeless. They don't empower us."
Staff won't stay
Mornington Island's largest primary health care provider Gidgee Healing is one of 42 health services on the Island.
Of the clinic's 12 staff, only two live on the island.
CEO Manjit Sekhon acknowledged local staff created better care and relationships but said lack of housing and community issues made sourcing staff near impossible, even with $500,000 salary offers.
Manjit Sekhon says a lack of housing and community buy-in has made it incredibly difficult to attract staff. (ABC Northwest: Tim Little)
"There has not been any interest at all," she said.
"There's no house or any accommodation that's available to the staff. We must rent dongas from the council … [a] one-room place with one hot plate … [and] a bathroom in the room.
"There are no men's groups or sports teams, where you, as a new person, are made to feel welcome."
Recent suicides have put the Mornington Island community in a "crisis state." (ABC Northwest: Des Mellican)
Dr Sekhon said she understood the community's anger, but believed the problem was far deeper than one health service.
"A good doctor is half of your therapy, and we miss out on that because we don't have that constant presence on the island," she said.
"But the reason for that is much deeper and wider.
"Mornington Island now is in a truly crisis state, but the crisis is not coming because one service is failing, the crisis is coming from the systems … not working."
'We should be thriving'
Mayor Kyle Yanner says the region has great economic potential. (ABC North West Queensland: Eric Barker)
Mr Yanner said he moved to the mainland to "empower" himself, but was confident things could get better.
"Mornington Island is a beautiful community. It's made up of 22 islands … the economic opportunities are crazy," he said.
"Eco-tourism is a big thing. There's an oyster-farming industry that we haven't tapped into.
"We should be a thriving, sustainable … island [with] bloody happy faces — proud people who are sharing their rich culture."