Coroner & Legal
NI Self-Determination: Update on meetings and presentations in UK 25th Feb – 2nd March 2
President of the Norfolk Island Council of Elders, Albert Buffett with Geoffrey Robertson QC in London (in the snow)
Albert at a meeting Norfolk Island All Parties Political Group in February
Providing a progress report on the work of so many people toward self-determination for Norfolk Island is never easy. Part of the difficulty is making sure that no momentum is lost by revealing an initiative, or the people at work on the legal, political or United Nations elements.
Fortunately, in this update, there are a few initiatives that we have no trouble highlighting and many political and legal supporters who we can equally identify to make it perfectly clear that the struggle for an act of self-determination is well supported and endorsed by greater minds than those who think they can subdue, displace, or disenfranchise the people of Norfolk Island.
Geoffrey Robertson AO QC has spent a considerable amount of time over many months evaluating the legal mechanisms to address the imposed changes to our community, and the required adherence to human rights principles that are part of the 21st century globally … except for the operations of the Australian Government in the context of Norfolk Island.
Albert Buffett, Lew Quintal and I attended a range of meetings, presentations, briefings and workshops in London throughout the six days ending on the 2nd of March. We met with representatives from an array of governments, as well as engaging in mutually constructive discussion with representatives from Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories. Meetings and presentations covered political avenues, United Nations process (decolonisation as well as other supportive committees and agencies), and legal steps to bring about an equitable, sustainable and most importantly achievable better outcome for the community of Norfolk Island.
It should come as no surprise to anyone that not one expert on legal, human rights or constitutional law has defended the actions of the Australian government in taking the actions it has against the wishes of the people who call Norfolk Island their home. Not one. On the other hand, we have been assisted by senior advisors to the decolonisation committee, the most reputable constitutional expert QC’s (internationally), UN human rights officials, we have also benefited from technical and professional advice from experts in island economies and transitional governance arrangements.
Pictures and information posted to facebook prior to our departure from London gave everyone an indication that Norfolk Island has not lost a single unit of support in the UK Parliament and beyond. The photo of Albert, Lew and I with Boris Johnson MP was taken seconds after Mr Johnson had made it clear that the actions to remove self-government and deny self-determination to Norfolk Island warranted investigation. During the twenty-six meetings on our itinerary in London, there was also external support activity throughout Westminster to add to our momentum and to bring heart to everyone at home on the island. One example is the EDM that was presented to the parliament on the 26th of February (the day our political meetings commenced in London). The EDM was titled:
Early day motion 983 – SELF-DETERMINATION FOR A DISTINCT COLONY OF THE CROWN NORFOLK ISLAND. Session: 2017-19 Date tabled: 26.02.2018
That this House supports the right of self-determination of Norfolk Island, which was until recently a limited self-governing territory attached initially to the UK and then to Australia, but was always a distinct colony of the British crown; calls for the self-determination of Norfolk Island in line with the UN charter on decolonization to which Australia is a signatory and which the UK has enacted for the people of the British Overseas Territories; and deplores the attempts by Australia to re-colonise the people of Norfolk Island and obstruct them from achieving the internationally accepted process of self-determination.
The motion was sponsored by many MP’s and also supported by 19 signatures from the diverse political parties, for example; The Labour Party, The Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru, The Conservative Party, The Democratic Unionist Party.
So, don’t think for a moment that we fight for justice on our own, we have some formidable and courageous friends who have, in some cases been where we are now and who understand the challenges and the solutions, and the need to stand strong.
Our delegation also made an effort to meet with the Australian High Commissioner in UK. Although the High Commissioner is soon to be replaced, we felt it constructive to gain some feedback from the current official. Unfortunately, the meeting was not a particularly productive use of our time and may be one that Albert and Lew can provide a broader outline of at the next pot luck dinner.
There is little doubt that there is interest in the welfare and collaboration with Norfolk Island from other nations of the Commonwealth – we have seen it, been part of the broader discussions on how to improve the situation and how Norfolk Island may once again become a productive island with a sustainable future in a positive partnership, rather than what the Australian government purport is an expensive colony with large scale welfare and handout dependency.
The Norfolk Island All Parties Political Group meeting at Westminster gave Albert, Lew and I an opportunity to present an update on the recent evidenced impacts of changes to immigration, importation of fruit and vegetables and the arbitrary valuations and doubling of land rates. (and to demonstrate the complete lack of governance accountability to the people of the island).
The actions listed above barely scratch the surface.. however, please be aware that the petition Geoffrey Robertson AO QC commenced with the OHCHR is only one of many irons in the fire now.
It seems completely unfair to not be able to share the other activities at this point in time – and I apologise and promise that as soon as the experts in each of the political, legal, SD areas enable local NI updates, they will be published.
Congratulations and thanks also to the Norfolk United Group on the platform you have provided to highlight the socio-economic realities impacting the business and local community.
In the meantime, rest assured that the situation on the island is being monitored and structured progress is underway.
EARLIER on Tasmanian Times …