Islanders want new PM to return their self government

KINGSTON – Hundreds of Norfolk Islanders marched through the island’s streets on Sunday protesting against what they say is the Australian government’s failure to ensure basic human rights.

This comes after Canberra ended the island’s 36 years of self government in June.

The march was organised by a group called ‘Hands up for Democracy’ which says Australia has failed to abide by the United Nations charter and failed to ensure the basic human rights associated with democracy.

A former Norfolk Island chief minister, Andre Nobbs, says the group is giving people, distressed by Canberra’s actions, a chance to express how they feel.

“That it is impossible to argue with – that the people of Norfolk Island want their democracy back because the dictatorship and the misrepresentation of the island is at a point where no one is prepared to sit down any more and stand by and watch it.”

RNZI reported that Norfolk Islanders, angry at Australia’s removal of their self government, are planning to petition the Commonwealth Ombudsman, asking for the island’s administrator to be removed.

“They are the things that have done and they are the things that need to be reviewed and enquired into,” Nobbs said.

Norfolk Islanders campaigning against an end to their self-government have been given renewed hope after the elevation of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

“Malcolm Turnbull is the new prime minister for Australia and I think it is definitely in his best interest to have a close look at the actions that led to the removal of the island’s parliament and the actions that continue to impact on the island’s economy and future.”

Nobbs has called on Turnbull to review laws passed by federal Parliament in May that replaced the island’s nine-member Legislative Assembly with an advisory council before permanent measures are created in 2016.

The changes will see Norfolk Island brought into mainland Australian tax arrangements, as well as provision of welfare, health and education.

Nobbs, who was chief minister from 2007 until 2010 and also served as tourism minister, said many islanders had welcomed the toppling of former prime minister Tony Abbott as a chance for the changes to be reversed.

The calls for reversal are being supported by former ACT chief minister Jon Stanhope who has criticised the end of self-government arrangements.

The legislation was supported by the Abbott government and Labor opposition, and the latest push for a reversal would face significant challenges to be successful.

“The community of Norfolk Island would now welcome the new Australian government leadership to review previous decisions made on flawed data and misleading statements and reports that influenced previous Australian government decisions,” Nobbs said.

“Misleading advice and reporting to support the Norfolk Island Act amendments has resulted in negative and irresponsible actions being imposed on the community of Norfolk Island.”

He disputed claims that Norfolk Island had poor infrastructure, that majority support existed among the 1800 residents for the removal of the island’s self-government or that the changes would be in the best interests for the Norfolk and Australian economies.

Nobbs said a complaint would be made to the Commonwealth Ombudsman outlining concerns held by some members of the island community into the current administration arrangements.

The former Norfolk government has described the changes as an “absolute denial of human rights and a grave travesty of justice”.

Stanhope, who was administrator of Christmas and Cocos islands until 2014, has repeatedly called on his Labor Party colleagues to resist the return to “old colonial-style rule” and the “trashing of the democratic rights of the people of Norfolk Island”.

A regional council is expected to be formed in 2016, and New South Wales will take responsibility for state functions on the island.

Norfolk was granted limited self-government in 1979, but has relied heavily on the Australian government for services.