‘Norfolk Island People for Democracy’ has today, 1 July 2015, announced to the world its intention to
pursue the right of the Norfolk Island People to an Act of Self Determination; a right first afforded to all of
the people of the world living in non self-governing territories by the United Nations in 1960, and a right
which the Australian Government has systematically and continually refused to extend to the Norfolk
Island People.
In addition to Australia’s longstanding refusal to comply with their international legal obligations by listing
Norfolk Island with the United Nations as a non self-governing territory the ‘final straw’ for ‘Norfolk Island
People for Democracy’ is the dangerous precedent set by the Abbott Government on 26 May 2015,
when it removed self-government from Norfolk Island without the democratic consent of the Norfolk
Island People.
It has been nearly six decades since the United Nations decided that ‘alien subjugation, domination and
exploitation constitute a denial of fundamental human rights’ and declared ‘an end to colonialism in all
its manifestations’. Surely now, when a non-sovereign territory can simply have its autonomy removed
overnight without the proper democratic consent of the people; and those people are then denied the
protections afforded to them by the United Nations, then this must send a warning shot across the bows
of all people living in the shadow of a larger neighbor.
This is a summary of the situation on Norfolk Island today:
• Norfolk Island is now a Non Self-Governing Territory
• Norfolk Island may now be inscribed on the United Nations List of Non Self-Governing Territories;
and
• Upon inscription, the Norfolk Island People will be accorded protective rights by the United
Nations to allow them to freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic,
social and cultural development.
Today a public invitation has been sent to Norfolk Island Residents inviting them to assist the ‘Norfolk
Island People for Democracy’ in upholding their legal right to an Act of Self-Determination. To access the
invitation document go to www.norfolkschoice.com
The ‘Norfolk Island People for Democracy’ at this time consists of the Chief Ministers in the Norfolk Island
Government for the last 15 years, the President of the Council of Elders, and other community
representatives, all of whom are very clear about their reasoning, their intentions and their goals.
A spokesman for ‘Norfolk Island People for Democracy’ said today, “We do not want to be independent
and we do not want to be integrated. What we want is simple. We want a mutually beneficial, mutually
respectful relationship with Australia forged in a spirit of partnership, cooperation, shared values, respect
for human rights and respect for the principles of the United Nations”.
The question today is, will the Abbott Government be able to change decades of ingrained paternalism
toward the Norfolk Island People by inscribing Norfolk Island onto the United Nations list of non-selfgoverning
territories in accordance with its international legal obligations or will the ‘Norfolk Island
People for Democracy’ be forced to choose another of the pathways available to it to achieve
inscription?
Download …
Attachment_Australian_minister_misleading_Australian_parliament_re_Norfolk_Island.pdf
Document_for_Norfolk_Island_People_for_Democracy.pdf
Norfolk Island People for Democracy
