Norfolk Island: Majority distress …

Today (Sunday) a large group of islanders marched in protest of the Australian Government representatives failure to abide by to United Nations charter and failure to ensure basic human Rights associated with democracy and accountable government process.

Above is a scan the front page of the island’s newspaper, the headline and demand for review was supported by hundreds of signatures today and demonstrates the complete misrepresentation Administrator Gary Hardgrave has carried out that has seen the removal of self government on the island – and launched the Norfolk Island and Australian taxpayer down a precarious and irresponsible path.

(The full Newspaper article “A new Australian Prime Minister. Time for a review of NI actions and a vote of No Confidence in the Norfolk Island Administrator” is below>).

It is worth keeping in mind that more than 1200 persons signed into “Hands up for Democracy”, the NI Electoral roll at last count was under one thousand…. do the maths, there is no majority support for the actions of former minister Jamie Briggs, or Administrator Gary Hardgraves’ actions. In fact there is just majority distress across all demographics resident on the island and equally so for persons not living on the island, but who understand the current farce and its destruction of a culture, economy, community and race of people.

• Earlier …

Norfolk Island Community continues the fight for democracy, independent review and a fair go!

Good afternoon,

Brief email to advise that the hands up for democracy march and visual presentation will be made this Sunday 27th 1:30pm NI time. (along with presentations from Council of Elders, community and former NI Gov members). Brief mp3 recording of radio interview from today – attached to this email

Attached are pictures to give an idea of the level of support for this community resident (and off-island resident) display of opposition to the processes to date that have lacked democratic process. There is active discussion in progress to develop a document/petition of “no confidence” in Administrator Gary Hardgrave. This document would go to the Queen and to the Commonwealth Ombudsman, particularly as the Governor General did nothing when he received the petition with 450 names on it seeking the GG’s intervention in the less than honourable actions of Gary Hardgrave in his vice regal role as the NI administrator.

It should be noted that there are many people in authoritative positions who are making untrue statements and claims such as:

(Asst Min Briggs and Hardgrave) “There is majority support for Australia’s removal of self government from the island” FALSE
• Referendum result demonstrated this is not true with 70% of electoral roll not supporting Australian Government actions (this figure is much higher now)
• Petition to House of Representatives with over 700 signatures opposing the governance changes (Electoral roll total number is 965)
• Petition to Australian Senate with over 700 signatures opposing the governance changes (Electoral roll total number is 965)
• Numerous public meetings (300 – 450 attendees at each) and public notices through local paper vehemently opposing removal of self governance and proposing better options

(Hardgrave report to Asst Min Briggs 20 Dec 2014)”The Norfolk Island Community supported the Joint Standing Committee recommendations” FALSE
• This an outright lie, as highlighted by 100’s of community members at public meetings before, during and after JSC process
• Numerous deceptions used by Hardgrave as the Commonwealth’s appointed Administrator seriously impacted credibility in NI/Aust discussions
• The administrators misleading and untrue statements with regard to JSC report and numerous other matters lead to a petition to remove him
• 450 names and signatures were put on a petition within a two week period to seek the Governor Generals removal of Hardgrave

(Asst Min Briggs)”A reason for the removal of self government was that no laws existed on the island for child welfare, drink driving, firearms”. FALSE
• Attached is a transcript from public radio refuting with factual data the above and other misinformation nationally broadcast by Briggs.
• Another claim related to 3rd world infrastructure – numerous previous and recent television editorials demonstrate that is also not true.
• Although it is not the major issue at the moment it does irk Norfolk Islanders that Australia has “assumed” infrastructure that it never funded.

The bottom line is that the Australian House of Representatives and the Australian Senate voted on a decision to remove self government from the island (among other changes) on the basis of misleading information from the islands administrator Gary Hardgrave and the then Assistant Minister Jamie Briggs. There was no majority support, there was no economic modelling demonstrating this as the best option for Australia and the community of Norfolk Island.

Ultimately with a new Australian PM, there is now an opportunity to review process and information leading up to these decisions, and to progress from this point with integrity, democracy and success. One way or another there will be a review, whether the Australian Government undertakes it in the best interests of the Australian and Norfolk Island Taxpayer, or if it is enacted by international/external agencies (with the subsequent embarrassment to Australian Government and bureaucrats).

Norfolk Islanders are immensely respectful and polite, however do not mistake that attribute for weakness or a lack of comprehension of the options available. One of our fundamental human rights is to have a right and a role in determining our future as a community, a people and a separate geographical land mass. Our intent is to remain an island that is productive and democratic, not a welfare dependent dictatorship.

“All peoples have the right to self-determination and by virtue of that right can freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development” (United Nations General Assembly resolution 1514)

The 200+ painted hands on pickets already standing in the paddock (photo attached) is a small percentage of the full number signed up. We were running out of room in the shed! The paddock is right next to Foodlands in the centre of town. The Referendum showed a majority of 70% did not agree with the removal of the islands self government, the ensuing actions from Australian Government officials has driven the community to react – and estimations are that the majority of NI residents seeking a proper democratic outcome (in line with the UN aspirations listed below), has grown to around 90%. So at no stage should any Australian Government representative be stating that the islands community is in majority support of the imposed and poorly thought out changes taking place on Norfolk Island – they would quite frankly be lying and misrepresenting the island community once again. (as well as putting unnecessary financial stress on the Australian taxpayer).

“Once it has been established that such a prima facie case of geographical and ethnical or cultural distinctiveness of a territory exists, other elements may then be brought into consideration. These elements may be, inter alia, of an administrative, political, juridical, economic or historical nature. If they affect the relationship between the metropolitan State and the territory concerned in a manner, which arbitrarily places the latter in a position or status of subordination, they support the presumption that there is an obligation to transmit information under Article 73(e) of the Charter.” United Nations.

• The Norfolk Islander …

A New Australian Prime Minister. Time for a review of NI actions and a Vote of No Confidence in the Norfolk Island Administrator

There is little doubt that many Norfolk Island residents welcomed the news that Malcolm Turnbull had been sworn in by the Governor General on the 15th of September to become Australian Prime Minister.

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 from Australian Government representatives that influenced previous Australian Government decisions.

Misleading Advice and reporting used to influence the decisions of the House of Representatives and the Australian Senate to support the NI Act amendments has resulted in negative and irresponsible actions being imposed on the community of Norfolk Island.

Examples of misleading advice affecting House of Representatives and Senate decision making: 1. Norfolk has no Child Welfare Laws 2. Norfolk Island has no Drink Driving laws 3. Norfolk Island has no Gun Laws 4. Norfolk Island has 3rd world infrastructure 5. There is majority support for removal of the island’s Self Governance 6. Economically this is the right decision for Australia and Norfolk Island 7. Petitions to House of Representatives and Senate were not valid 8. There is majority support within the NI community for the JSC report recommendations There was also a failure to acknowledge official referendum results, the many other letters and petitions, inclusive of 80 letters sent directly to assistant minister Briggs highlighting community concern.

The department (DIRD) did not utilise or make available economic impact data to enable a thorough and economically viable decision making process for the Australian Government: The Centre for International Economics (CIE) report was withheld and no attempt at private sector taxation data collection through “tax form dry runs” (as committed to in the “Roadmap”) was carried out. This was no coincidence as the CIE report of 2006 identified the collapse of the islands economy if Australian taxes were rolled out and the associated regulatory and compliance costs would result in the removal of tourism competitiveness from the destination.

Unfortunately for Norfolk Island, the Commonwealths Vice Regal appointment to the island – Gary Hardgrave has not always communicated with fairness, has not represented the views of the majority of members in the community, has not displayed appropriate sensitivity to island heritage and culture, has not displayed an interest in economic success of our destination and continues to demonstrate that he is professionally incapable of dealing with island issues with sensitivity and fairness. Add to this commentary (such as that recorded by statutory declaration) that Gary Hardgrave would like to bury some islanders in the Emily Bay Bridge and you cannot mistake the lack of intent to uphold the duties required for the position of Norfolk Island Administrator. “Australian Government agencies and services The Ombudsman can investigate complaints about the actions and decisions of Australian Government agencies to see if they are wrong, unjust, unlawful, discriminatory or just plain unfair.” (extract from Commonwealth Ombudsman webpage) I will shortly be completing a complaint to the Commonwealth Ombudsman, identifying that the island community has no confidence in the political, economic, social or professional capacities of the current administrator. If any reader would like further information on this process or would like to be a co signatory to the complaint process, please contact me directly.