Queensland police believe they are a step closer to finding a key person of interest in the 2018 death of Toyah Cordingley, following high-level talks with Indian authorities.
Ms Cordingley, 24, was walking her dog along Wangetti Beach, north of Cairns, when she was killed in October 2018.
The state government has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to the location and arrest of Rajwinder Singh, 38, a person of interest who police allege flew to India in the days after Ms Cordingley's death.
Detective Inspector Kevin Goan from Cairns recently returned to Australia from New Dehli, after working with Indian officials, including the Ministry for External Affairs, Home Affairs and the head of the Central Bureau of Investigations.
In an exclusive interview with the ABC, he said Indian officials had agreed to allow Australian authorities to have direct contact with sections of the Indian police force, comprised of 3.5 million officers.
"We had two very senior police from the Punjab region fly down and be present for the meetings with the Central Bureau of Investigations," Inspector Goan said.
"There was a consensus that we have direct contact with certain arms of the police forces in India.
"That gives us immediate contact, once we receive information."
He said he felt confident Mr Singh, who has family in the Punjab area, would be found.
"The translation of $1 million and what that would do for a family is unique," Inspector Goan said.
"It would be a comparable wealth of about $25 million in India and when you look at that value, it's life-changing.
"That is generational wealth for a family in India, an opportunity to change your lot in life, of your family and that of your children.
"It's a great incentive for people, particularly in his home village in the Punjab region, to come forward and tell us what they know about his current location."
'Credible information' flowing from India
Five Queensland police officers who can speak Hindi and Punjabi have come together to receive information via the WhatsApp messaging platform.
Inspector Goan said the group had received "credible information" since the $1 million reward was posted last week.
"The information warrants further investigation," he said.
"I'm feeling confident."
Mr Singh was living in Innisfail with his wife and children and was working as a nurse at the time of Ms Cordingley's death.
Police said he flew from Cairns to Sydney on October 22, 2018, the day after Ms Cordingley died.
The next day, he flew to India.
Last week, Ms Cordingley's mother, Vanessa Gardiner, described Toyah as a "beautiful spiritual person" who was about to start her first full-time job when she was killed.
"I see her friends … married with kids … I think of everything she's missed out on in her life," Ms Gardiner said.
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