THE GOOD OIL

Sometimes people say they wonder why Australia even bothers with a little place like Norfolk Island. Australia tells us they take their responsibilities to us and the Australian citizens living here very seriously. Maybe they do, but during 150 years when we have come under the oversight of the Colonial Government, the NSW government, and the Commonwealth Government, their track record has not been too good when it has come to really understanding and meeting our needs and respecting our rights and wishes.
There is no doubt that Australia needs Norfolk Island every bit as much, if not more so, than Norfolk needs Australia.
It has been obvious for over 200 years that this island is strategically important to Australia from a geographic point of view. It would be rather valuable to have Norfolk as an ally, and this island has not let Australia down in that area, with record numbers, per head of population, of island men serving in Australian forces to help defend this part of the world.
Undoubtedly, in the past four or five years especially, border control has been an issue. It would surely be possible to station one or two officers from Australian Immigration on this island to help police that area if they have any concerns.
It may not be a significant amount, but Australia probably makes more money out of this island than they admit, through taxes paid to them by larger companies and corporations doing business on this island e.g. banks, fuel companies, airlines and shipping companies. We do not get to see any of that money.
But the real issue is oil. The West's intervention in the Middle East....justified and necessary or not....was basically to secure and stabilise oil supplies. When Australia helped East Timor gain its independence....and this was a good thing.... it gave them access to the oil between the two countries, and many would say it was more than their fair share! I am not making judgements about these issues. It is just a case of these developed, oil-reliant countries protecting their national interest.
Unfortunately, Norfolk is a pawn in Australia's "national interest".
There is undoubtedly oil in or near Norfolk Island's (Australia's?) 200 mile territorial waters. This is not some far-fetched idea or wild conspiracy theory. The probability of enormous reserves of gas hydrates under the sea bed in this part of the world has been scientifically established. The technology to access these fuels has not yet been properly developed. But when it is, Australia will be ready.
Canberra has been very busy lately buying the friendship of other nearby Pacific islands. But they have their "PROPERTY OF AUSTRALIA" logo firmly stamped on this island. This saves them from having to waste time showing us proper respect and diplomacy.
So do they really care what happens to us? At least two lots of people who had interviews with Minister Lloyd were told, when they sought his help with our airline situation, that Canberra had no obligations to this island other than to "keep the lights on."
When they have completed their takeover, and stripped us of all our identity, our culture, our heritage and our self-reliance, the lights may still be on. But they will be the lights of a convenient and permanent aircraft carrier, and of a base/headquarters for oil exploration and drilling.