[This letter first appeared in The Norfolk Islander and on Norfolk Online News, 10 December 2016]
Since his appointment on 1 July 2014 the present Administrator of Norfolk Island, The Hon Gary Hardgrave, has proved to be the most contentious and divisive in the island’s history. His conduct has been such that he has:
Been the subject of numerous calls for his sacking from private and public figures on Norfolk Island, both in the columns of the local media and in letters to the Australian Minister responsible for Territories and the Prime Minister (1);
Been the subject of a petition, signed by over 450 members of the Norfolk Island community and delivered to His Excellency the Governor General of Australia Sir Peter Cosgrove at Government House Canberra on 14 May 2015, petitioning that he ‘immediately terminate the appointment of the Administrator of Norfolk Island, the Hon Gary Hardgrave as our trust in the position has been shattered’ (2);
Been the subject of a signed statement to the UK House of Commons by members of the UK Parliament who visited Norfolk Island in October 2016 (3). In this statement dated 25 October the members recorded that they were deeply disturbed by what they found on the island, that the current Administrator ‘has lost the confidence of the overwhelming majority of the people of Norfolk Island’, that the present situation is ‘damaging the lives of the people of Norfolk Island as well as the reputation of Australia’, and they urged that the Commonwealth Government ‘re-build trust with the people of Norfolk Island and adopt a new approach, with a new Administrator in Government House’;
Been the subject of a letter from Australian Senator Pauline Hanson to the Australian Prime Minister Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP dated 19 October 2016 (4), in which were described allegations made in six different areas against the Administrator, and in which the Senator stated that ‘Based on the allegations that have been made, there appears to be a strong case for the immediate dismissal of Mr Hardgrave as Administrator’, and further that ‘I share the concerns of the people of Norfolk Island that Mr Hardgrave has failed to uphold the obligations of his high office and should be immediately replaced’.
In response to Senator Hanson’s letter to the Prime Minister, the Australian Minister for Local Government and Territories, Senator the Hon Fiona Nash, put out a statement saying “Mr Hardgrave will not be sacked based on vague and unsubstantiated allegations’ (5).
Such a response merely fudges the issue, and does not speak well of the Australian Government. The allegations made in Senator Hanson’s letter are not without substance, and there is much evidence readily available in relation to them. For example in relation to whether the Administrator did or did not mislead the former Minister – and thereby the Australian Parliament – by reporting that the proposed ‘change in governance arrangements is supported [sic] by a substantial majority of Norfolk Island residents’ (6): this statement is contradicted by all known information available in the public arena, a finding that was reported publicly at least as early as February 2016 (7). Again, the truth or otherwise of the statement alleged to have been made by the Administrator at a dinner for the visiting UK Parliamentarians, namely that Norfolk Island residents had been responsible for criminal acts in burning down houses bought by the Australian Government to house workers involved in the recent takeover, could be resolved one way or the other by a few simple telephone calls. The relevant information required to explore in detail the several allegations reported in Senator Hanson’s letter, if not immediately available, should be readily recoverable.
One response by Minister Nash to the issues raised in Senator Hanson’s letter that would not attract the label of ‘evasion’, would be one that continued: ‘… and I will investigate the matter immediately to determine whether the allegations are true or false, make the findings available publicly, and if the weight of evidence indicates that the allegations are true then I will remove the Administrator’. Given the importance of the Administrator’s position as the representative of Queen Elizabeth II on Norfolk Island, this would seem to be an essential step. To fail to undertake it would merely confirm once again the charge made by many Norfolk Islanders, that the Australian Government is care-less as to their real interests and concerns.
If the Australian Government in its dealings with Norfolk Island is to be seen to have any integrity and credibility whatsoever, this matter needs to be promptly addressed. Power may give governments licence to ride roughshod over whomsoever they choose and at whim, but justice sets a higher standard. And furthermore Australia cannot avoid judgement in this matter on the international stage. Why should any nation want to support the Australian Government’s current bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council when the Government itself condones such a mess in its own back yard? I urge Minister Nash to take decisive action to clean up this mess.
(1) For one example amongst many: CN, ‘Commonwealth Day, the Commonwealth Charter, and why the Norfolk Island Administrator should resign or be sacked’, The Norfolk Islander and Norfolk Online News, 26/03/2016; (2) Letter from Mr Ron Nobbs MLA to His Excellency the Governor-General (with signed petition), 13/05/2015, and letter in response from the Governor-General, 15/05/2015; (3) Kawczynski, D., Sherriff, P. and Rosindell, A., ‘Statement by U.K. Members of Parliament regarding the situation in Norfolk Island’, from the House of Commons, London, 25/10/2016, available at: http://www.norfolkschoice.com/press-releases/; (4) Senator Pauline Hanson, Letter to Prime Minister Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, dated 19/10/2016, available at: http://www.norfolkschoice.com/press-releases/; (5) Melissa Davey, ‘Norfolk Island: Fiona Nash dismisses Pauline Hanson’s call to sack administrator’, The Guardian, 19/10/2016; (6) Hon Gary Hardgrave, Norfolk Island Community Consultations: Report to the Minister, 20/12/2014, p.3; (7) CN, ‘Was there ever a majority of Norfolk Islanders in favour of the removal of self-government?’, The Norfolk Islander and Norfolk Online News, 13/02/2016.
Earlier letters and articles by CN available at: http://www.norfolkonlinenews.com/chris-nobbs.html
Chris Nobbs
