“Norfolk Island has, to Australia’s enduring shame, joined Christmas Island and the Cocos Keeling Islands as non-self-governing territories, or in other words, as colonies,” writes columnist JON STANHOPE.

Recently, I wrote to the three members of the federal parliament who represent the residents of Norfolk Island, namely senators David Pocock and Katy Gallagher and MP David Smith, the member for Bean, to express my concern about the appalling treatment dished out by the Labor Party to the residents of Norfolk Island. 

Kristy McBain, the Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, responded to my letter on behalf of Senator Gallagher and Mr Smith.

It is a decade since the ALP joined with the Greens and the Liberal Party to abolish self-government on Norfolk Island and to delegate responsibility for the governance of the territory to faceless, Canberra-based public servants. 

A consequence of the decision to abolish self-government is, of course, that Norfolk Island has, to Australia’s enduring shame, joined Christmas Island and the Cocos Keeling Islands as non-self-governing territories, or in other words, as colonies.

In response to my letter minister McBain advised, among other things, that: “I note your concerns about the Norfolk Island Community’s access to democratic participation. In November I announced a new, bespoke model of government for Norfolk Island, the Norfolk Island Assembly. The Assembly will comprise five elected members and be empowered to make local laws that support local service delivery. 

“The Assembly model was informed by the recommendations of the Norfolk Island Governance Committee, which includes two democratically elected community representatives. The Committee’s recommendations followed extensive community consultation.”

Since the tone and content of Minister McBain’s letter was diametrically opposed to the advice I have been receiving from senior, highly respected and long-time members of the Norfolk Island community I referred it to them for their consideration and advice.

The following provides a flavour of the responses I received.

“There has been no recognition of the state disconnect in Norfolk Island governance. The department acts as the state and quite frankly there is very little praise I can provide…”

“Despite the Department’s Operational Plan stating: ‘Working with state government partners to review the suitability of Commonwealth legal and governance frameworks in the non-self-governing territories’… this has not occurred.” 

“We are about to face a federal election and, quite honestly, I am unable to support the Electorate of Bean candidate. The only genuine supporter we have in the Commonwealth Parliament is Senator Pocock. Senator Pocock got it right in Senate Estimates when he said: ‘I know they are a long way away and their votes don’t count’.”

As noted above, minister McBain advised me, on behalf of Senator Gallagher and Mr Smith, that: “The Assembly model was informed by the recommendations of the Norfolk Island Governance Committee following extensive community consultations.”

In response to that advice, a senior and highly regarded Norfolk Island resident told me that: “In the 16 months of community engagement I can’t recall a single person asking for a continuation of the current undemocratic model. 

“Additionally, I can only recall three comments in favour of the local government model. 

“Personally, I can’t reconcile the community’s views about the proposed model with the response you got from the minister.”

 The Norfolk Island Council of Elders made the following comment: “The governance model crafted by the Australian Government is unsuitable, unsatisfactory and unacceptable.”

The Norfolk Island People for Democracy advised: “The process has dismally failed to adhere to the terms of reference of the inquiry, the findings of the Joint Standing Committee and the recommendations of our locally elected representatives. 

“Our representatives made it clear that the Norfolk Island people do not support a continuation of local government. The local government model fails to address the democratic deficit, which is inconsistent with international standards.”

Elected member of the Norfolk Island Governance Committee, Alma Davidson said: “I did not stand to simply have a local government and to continue the state disconnect, which currently exists with the Commonwealth department subsuming the role of a state. 

‘Despite my advocacy it is clear that the Australian Government has its own plans for Norfolk Island and has no intention of listening to or respecting the wishes of those in the community who engaged in the NIGC process.”

The Accommodation and Tourism Association of Norfolk Island: “The ATA categorically rejects this new governance model, which basically imposes more of the same on the community. 

In representing the will of the community, the NIGC community representatives have rejected the local governance model being imposed by the minister on the community. 

“One of the NIGC community representatives has voiced her opposition to the imposed model and resigned from the NIGC, while the other two community representatives have made it clear that, on behalf of most of the community, they also oppose a local governance model.

“The minister has ignored the will of the people. Consequently, the ATA’s trust in the process has been eroded. The minister plans to implement the new Norfolk Island Assembly by an ordinance under the Norfolk Island Act, which clearly avoids the democratic advantages of parliamentary debate and scrutiny.”

Individual members of the Norfolk Island community made the following observations and comments on the proposed new governance structure and arrangements:

• “The decision to set up a local council model for Norfolk Island, again, will fail.”
• “It is absolutely shocking that the federal government has ignored the needs and aspirations of the people of Norfolk Island, who overwhelmingly reject a local government model. I believe the whole NIGC process has been a sham.”
• “This is a gross betrayal of trust. The minister and the department should hang their heads in shame. They have not been able to come up with a single thing that addresses Norfolk Island’s governance and democratic deficit. They do not even have the courage to take it before the Australian parliament.”
• “The Minister has deceived the Norfolk Island people by continuing with the current failed Commonwealth model and merely changing the name of the Norfolk Island Regional Council to Norfolk Island Assembly.”
• “You cannot pretend to have something new and improved in our governance just because you gave it a new name and put it under another state’s control”.

I have a long and close association with Norfolk Island, Christmas Island and the Cocos Keeling Islands. My wife Robyn and I, with our family, were privileged to live on both Norfolk and Christmas islands. The almost total disregard and disinterest of our government, and the Parliament more generally, with the singular exception of Senator Pocock, in the basic human and democratic rights of the residents of these islands is reprehensible.