Police have called off the search for five people missing in the Torres Strait since Wednesday.
Two men, two women and a nine-year-old child were travelling by boat from Badu Island to Dauan Island.
The boat was found on Friday afternoon with no people on board, sparking a large-scale search operation.
"Incredibly sad news for not just Dauan Island but Saibai and the entire communities up here in the Torres Strait and beyond," Chief Superintendent Brian Huxley said.
"They've been missing for a number of days now and we've delivered the terrible news to the families that we've been unable to find their loved ones.
"It’s been an extensive search, covering thousands of square kilometres."
A report will be prepared for the coroner, and support is being provided to the families of those missing.
Earlier, Queensland police said it was "highly unlikely" a child's body found near Old Mawatta Village on mainland Papua New Guinea was that of a missing nine-year-old boy in the Torres Strait.
The five people disappeared on Wednesday after setting off about 3:00pm in a 7-metre boat.
An empty boat and a bag containing lifejackets were found approximately 4.5 kilometres west of Dauan Island about 1:50pm on Friday and will be examined by Water Police this week.
Saturday's search failed to locate any further items.
The water search involved police, government agencies and local volunteers.
Torres Strait Patrol Group Inspector Mark Lingwood said the search area covered about 1,000 square kilometres.
