New report claims Commonwealth Legislation on Norfolk Island based on wholesale errors

The first detailed analysis of the Australian Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories (JSCNCET) Inquiry into Norfolk Island, which constructed the recommendations that led to the abolition of partial self-governance on the island, has found a “deeply flawed and fragile process”.

Following the findings of the JSCNCET enquiry, the Australian Parliament passed the Norfolk Island Legislation Amendment Act 2015 that saw the abolition of the Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly, the disbanding of the Norfolk Island Government and Public Service, and the absorption of Norfolk Island into the Australian taxation and welfare systems.

The new report by economist Dr Chris Nobbs, entitled “A Shocking Project: The Joint Standing Committee and the Construction of the Norfolk Island Legislation Amendment Act 2015”, concludes that major claims made in the JSCNCET Report were without substance, namely:

– that the Norfolk Island economy from 1979 to 2014 had been a “failure”;

– that the Norfolk Island Government’s difficulty with financial sustainability was a matter of governance – rather than small size and isolation – was a mis-diagnosis; and

– that a majority of Norfolk Islanders welcomed the proposed changes and the loss of self-government.

Dr Nobbs’ report states that:”False assumptions and faulty deductions lead to policies and actions that are likely to be both inappropriate and incoherent. Particularly is this so in the present case in which no adequate consideration was given to the consequences of the policies being promoted by the JSCNCET (and subsequently adopted by the Australian Government). Many on Norfolk Island would argue that that is what they are now experiencing.”

The report urges the responsible Commonwealth Ministers to take urgent steps to remedy the problems and injustices the Commonwealth has created.

(*) The report entitled “A Shocking Project: The Joint Standing Committee and the Construction of the Norfolk Island Legislation Amendment Act 2015“, is prepared by economist and former scientist Dr Chris Nobbs. The report is available for free download from: HERE