NORFOLK ISLAND – One year on Norfolk is not giving up in its struggle with Canberra. A year ago, on June 18, 2015, the Australia Federal Parliament removed Norfolk Island’s autonomy.

Canberra claimed the island could no longer fend for itself and passed laws incorporating it into New South Wales, which is due to happen in just two weeks.

But there has been a vigorous rejection of Canberra’s move on the island.

To avoid the take-over Norfolk has appealed to the United Nations for listing as non-self-governing territory - a plea which may be considered shortly.

Robin Adams was minister of culture in the island’s disbanded government. Radio New Zealand’s Dateline Pacific asked her about the mood of the people.

“People are absolutely in a state of uncertainty, where we have the Australian taxation social welfare system due to commence on July 1. The Commonwealth taxation office is closing – that’s been a place where people could go, one on one, to share their concerns and get understanding.

“The senior citizens, for example, will have to rely on phones and computer to answer their queries, and that is a very distressing thing for senior citizens of our community.

“But not only the senior citizens, anyone who has never been exposed, who has never lived in Australia, who has never lived under an Australian, or any taxation system, and all of a sudden is being confronted with such a change to his world.

“But Norfolk Island, despite all the concern, the angst, Norfolk Island has resilience on its DNA and we will rise above this.

“And we will continue to work towards getting our case heard by the United Nations, and for Australia to start to meet its international obligations at international law under the UN charter.

“We’re sending a letter to the Australian Prime Minister, bringing to his attention the fact that Australia is in breach of its international obligations under the United Nations.

“And asking it to step up to the plate and take this situation on board and in the meantime take steps to put a pause on what is happening until the Special Committee on Decolonisation has had an opportunity to look at Norfolk Island’s case.”

DATELINE PACIFIC: This letter to the Prime Minister, groups on Norfolk have written to the Prime Minister before, have there ever actually been any responses?

“No, no and that’s regrettable. But however, we’re at a pivotal time in Australia’s political history.

“They have a federal election in just two weeks’ time, we are making approaches to all of the parties to help them understand that in passing this legislation they were clearly misled.

“Misled, that the Norfolk Island community had been consulted, misled that we were in agreement with what was happening.

“The Australian parliament – we believe they were totally unaware that two weeks prior to them passing the legislation that 70 per cent of Norfolk islanders by referendum requested an act of self-determination before the legislation passed.

“We continue to try and get the politicians in the federal parliament to understand they were misled.”

DATELINE PACIFIC: Norfolk Island obviously has had really long associations with Australia, and it is quite Australian. So are Norfolk Islanders surprised at the way in which Australia has acted here?

“Surprised, yes, the degree to which Australia has gone. It’s absolutely clear that globally, once a place is giving self-government it is an anathema to remove it, once democracy has been given to a people, it should never be taken away.

“Geoffrey Robertson QC made that statement quite clear when he took our case to the United Nations.

“I’ll just quote – ‘abolishing Norfolk Island as an autonomous territory may not seem to matter much in the grand scheme of things, but for an international order that cherishes self-government and proclaims the right of self-determination of people, it is a regressive and unimaginative action, an example of the inability to tolerate democracy and difference’.” - RNZI

Bright future for Pacific tourism predicted

PACIFIC – A recent World Bank report says careful and sustainable planning around emerging tourism markets could help Pacific Island countries gain as much as US$1.8 billion per year in additional revenues and create up to 128,000 additional jobs by 2040.

The Pacific Possible: Tourism Report, outlines a plan for long-term, balanced and manageable tourism growth to the year 2040. The report recommends four key strategy areas for attention – improving international transport links to the region; attracting higher-spending tourists; improved public sector engagement; and improving linkages between tourism and local economies.

“Tourism is one of the Pacific region’s most economically viable sectors, with significant opportunities for sustainable growth in the Chinese tourist, cruise ship, luxury travel and retiree markets,” said John Perrottet, report author and Senior Technical Specialist at the World Bank.

“By taking a targeted approach to tourism development, Pacific Island countries can ensure visitor numbers are kept at sustainable levels, while attracting higher-spending tourists – helping to protect the precious natural environment and cultural heritage that make this region so special.”

Tourism plays an important role in Pacific island economies and is one of the region’s few economically viable sectors.

Total tourism spending in Pacific Island countries for 2013 amounted to US$1.4 billion. In 2014, a record 1.37 million overnight visitors arrived across eleven Pacific Island countries, with Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Samoa and Vanuatu making up the top five destinations.

Two thirds of visitors travelling to Pacific Island countries are from Australia and New Zealand, while the United States, China, Japan and Europe represent significant growth potential.

“Tourism has a multiplier effect in local economies, helping to boost business activity and the livelihoods of people working in various other industries, including agriculture and retail,” said Franz Drees-Gross, World Bank Country Director for Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the Pacific Islands. “We hope this report will assist Pacific island governments in sustainable planning for more tourism arrivals from both existing and emerging tourism markets.” - World Bank