BETTER OFF???

BETTER OFF???
The Minister for Regional Services and Territories has come to Norfolk Island for four days, along with departmental officials, to outline the Australian Government's plans to largely absorb Norfolk Island into Australia, and take away much of its powers of self-government.
There was no prior consultation or warning of the nature of this announcement, apart from a supposed "Cabinet leak."
The announcement was made to the island by radio at 4 p.m. on Monday, immediately following a meeting with our Legislative Assembly. At the same time, leaflets were placed in every mailbox. The announcement was vague and dipped in honey, made to sound as if the moves were being made out of concern for preserving Norfolk's uniqueness! We were not even given specific details. Therefore I was amazed to hear the Minister, in an interview with Radio National early this morning, tell the reporter that we would be losing our control of our Customs, Immigration and Quarantine. This was the first I had heard of this (apart from rumour) and his speech and leaflet made no mention of it. How demeaning!
One thing I do note in the "glossy" leaflet is the following:
"The Commonwealth has a responsibility to establish a sustainable form of government on Norfolk Island which is able to deliver services to the island of a comparable standard to services delivered to communities elsewhere in Australia."
And this:
"Australian Government financial assistance being extended to Norfolk Island to provide an equitable level of service delivery, compared with other Australian communities of a similar size."
Either the Minister is joking, or he has an appalling sense of timing. The announcement came on the same day as Telecom announced that they would be drastically cutting the number of payphones in rural areas, removing those that did not pay for themselves. We enjoy free local calls, and have a number of public phones. We hear of long delays in fixing phones and communications problems in rural areas on Telecom's part, and of inadequate and unreliable Internet services. We do not have these problems.
The island had the opportunity to install a mobile phone system here, but actually said "No thanks!" in a referendum! There is more to quality of life than pouring money and technology at it! Last week I saw on TV that a rural Shire in NSW was prepared to spend up to a million dollars to attract a doctor to their local area. We can consult with up to three medicos at our local hospital and have a full time dentist, a physiotherapist, and frequent visiting specialists.
I am told that many women in rural Australia need to travel enormous distances to the nearest maternity unit or surgical ward. We have a wonderful 22 bed hospital right here.
Country towns are losing their banks, their ATM's and other facilities. We frequently hear of unemployment and idleness, particularly among youth, leading to crime and other social problems in rural towns. We do not even have the dole here...although an allowance is available to anyone in genuine need. Young people are forced to be resourceful and work, at two or three part-time jobs if necessary. Moreover, people are happy to give them work, because they know they need it.
I could go on.
But please, Minister, and the Government you represent....we have such a good standard of living and quality of life here....please do not reduce us to the level of services you provide to the people of Australia!