The treaty also set out the manner in which the common border area would be managed.

[1] The treaty is named for the Torres Strait that separates mainland Australia and Papua New Guinea.

The treaty defines two boundaries between Australia and Papua New Guinea Despite being located on the Papua New Guinea side of the Seabed Jurisdiction Line, the following islands belong to Australia: The treaty also established the Torres Strait Protected Zone.

The aim of the Protected Zone is to allow indigenous Torres Strait Islanders and coastal Papua New Guinea people to maintain their traditional ways of life.

"[1] The following villages in Papua New Guinea have traditional rights under this treaty to enter into the Australian-controlled part of the Protected Zone.