A Papua New Guinean police commander says the suspected drowning of seven fishermen highlights his country's inability to rescue people at sea in the Torres Strait.
Three survivors from a PNG fishing boat were found more than a week ago, but Queensland police say they were not informed until last Friday that seven others were missing.
An Australian rescue operation was cancelled last Saturday when Queensland police were told the boat had capsized on June the 30th.
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Both Queensland and PNG police say they have no direct line of communication across the international border in the Torres Strait.
Western Province police commander Silva Sika spoke from the town of Kiunga to Queensland correspondent Stefan Armbruster.
