This week many people who call Norfolk Island home are celebrating the absence of the Vice Regal appointee – the Administrator of Norfolk Island, as he spends Friday 7th October morning breakfasting in London at the Australian and Norfolk Island taxpayers’ expense.
The Australian Government has been petitioned by the people of Norfolk Island, as has the Australian Governor General and the Commonwealth Ombudsman to review and/or remove Administrator Mr Gary Hardgrave from his post as Administrator on Norfolk Island.
Andre Nobbs a former Norfolk Island Leader of Government and former member of the Royal Australian Air Force states, “The Australian Government and their representatives are deliberately ignoring the people of Norfolk Island and attempting to hide the fact that the majority of people on the island do not support the actions of the Australian Government.” “How can a government ignore an official referendum with a 68% response, how can a government ignore petitions to the Senate and the House of Representatives with more than two thirds of the electoral role petitioning the Australian Government to review decision-making and not destroy the islands self-government?”
Perhaps the answer to the above question can be found in the report submitted by the Australian Administrator Gary Hardgrave in December 2014, whereby he claimed that the majority of people on the island supported the removal of the islands self-government.
The community has called for an investigation into this report and the flawed process used by the Australian Government to destroy the Norfolk Island parliament, removing democratic, accountable process from the island in mid-2015 and simultaneously enabling the Australian Government to grab valuable infrastructure and land that they had never funded in the first place.
“There is an abundance of evidence, petitions, correspondence, public meeting data and referendum information that unequivocally demonstrates that the people of Norfolk Island have been intentionally misrepresented by Australian Government representatives. Yet there does not appear to be any evidence available to support the claim made within the Administrators report, or some of his continuing dialogue about the island and the community.”
During early September a delegation of cross party MP’s from United Kingdom led by Andrew Rosindell MP travelled the considerable distance to Norfolk Island to gather information on the current situation and the processes used to remove the islands democratically elected representatives. A recent public meeting offered the opportunity for the UK MP’s to gain a very clear picture of the situation on Norfolk Island when over 30% of the resident population attended to voice their concern over the Australian Government and the Australian Government appointed Administrator’s misrepresentation and defamation of the people of Norfolk Island.
Survey data collected from 300 people during the public meeting revealed these very clear messages with regard to the Australian Government’s take-over of Norfolk Island:
1. Do you agree with the governance changes to Norfolk Island? Yes=0 No=292
2. Do you feel you have been Consulted and listened to? Yes=15 No=277
3. Do you support a United Nations Self-determination process for Norfolk Island? Yes=288 No=1
4. Have you been impacted or seen first-hand the impacts of stress and anxiety relating directly to the Australian Government imposed changes? Yes=294 No=0
5. Do you feel the identity of the people of Norfolk Island has been significantly negatively impacted by the actions of the Australian Government representatives? Yes=294 No=0
“it seems quite obvious that the purpose of the Administrators visit to UK is an attempt to convolute the very clear information provided by representative groups and community members to the recent UK MP delegation.” “The visit to UK of the islands vice regal appointee is unprecedented and demonstrates further how desperate the Australian Government are to conceal the truth around their actions regarding Norfolk Island,” states Mr Nobbs, former Norfolk Island Chief Minister. “Australia is breaching Human Rights covenants and United Nations Charters in regard to their arrogant and unlawful behaviour imposed on the people of the island. I know I speak for a large number of people on Norfolk Island when I say “Please bring Norfolk Island back into the fold of British Overseas Territories!”
As identified by legal experts and political advisors, Norfolk Island was never ceded or annexed to Australia. Britain only handed over the administering powers to Australia. Islanders claim that for many years the Australian Government has demonstrated a complete lack of accountable and democratic process to the people of the island, while at the same time continuing to gain benefit from the islands fisheries and exclusive economic zone.”
“Today there is a Union Jack flying atop the ‘Tent Embassy’, where community members have been camping as a protest within the former NI Parliamentary compound, since April this year. The islands anthem has always been God Save the Queen (although there is now external pressure to replace it with the Australian anthem). Queen Victoria gifted the island to our forefathers and foremothers by an Order in Council in 1856, we strongly relate to and respect Britain who consistently provide constructive and productive support to their overseas territories.” Norfolk Island’s Council of Elders President Albert Buffett says, “We question whether the Queen would give her endorsement to the actions and statements of the Administrator, who is supposed to be an honourable apolitical vice-regal appointment to the island.” “The actions and attitude of the Administrator on Norfolk Island seem to have exacerbated the community distress, aggravated cultural and heritage sensitivities and highlighted the complete lack of change management and apolitical skillset that the position requires.”
“What we need is independent oversight to the actions of these Australian Government Representatives. United Nations Charter and International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights already identify they are doing the wrong thing, as a British Overseas Territory we ask the United Kingdom, help us get this issue corrected please”, say Mr Nobbs and Mr Buffett.
Norfolk Islanders have their own language, culture and heritage.. and their own sense of humour as Mr Nobbs makes the parting remark, “Perhaps British Authorities could also ease the high incidence of stress related health issues on the island (as compiled within a 2016 report to the UK Parliament) by keeping the islands vice regal appointee in London for as long as possible!”
Andre Nobbs, Technical Advisor to the Norfolk Island Council of Elders, Albert Buffett – President of Norfolk Island Council of Elders
