Mount Isa vs Torres Strait

Mount Isa and Torres Strait are two very different Queensland regions. Mount Isa has a much larger First Nations population, with 8,265 people compared to 6,093 in Torres Strait. Life in Mount Isa is more walkable, with 69.8% of homes within 15 minutes of a school and 42.3% near groceries, whereas these figures are 26.2% and 24.5% in Torres Strait. Cultural profiles differ sharply, as 82.4% of people in Torres Strait speak a First Nations language, compared to 7.8% in Mount Isa. Educational outcomes for First Nations people are also far higher in Torres Strait, where 52.8% finish Year 12, compared to 27.5% in Mount Isa.

Both areas share a typical First Nations age of 25, and both are well below the national figure for the share of homes within 10 minutes of public transport, which is 0.0% for each. While both are mostly car-dependent, Mount Isa is slightly more walkable. The gap in First Nations unemployment is also notable, as the rate is well higher in Mount Isa at 15.9% compared to 9.1% in Torres Strait.