UNHAPPY CHRISTMAS

It is not easy to draw comparisons between Norfolk Island and Christmas Island. Although both are external territories of the Commonwealth of Australia, and have a similar population, the background, history, culture, economy and ethnicity of the two differ greatly.

Even the aspirations of the two communities differ. Most Christmas Islanders were happy to become Australian citizens, because they believed it would mean an end to the racism, discrimination and poor conditions they had been living under previously. Unlike most Norfolk Islanders, they actually accept the Canberra "mantra" about "the rights and obligations of all Australian citizens."

What we do have in common is an intense disappointment with the lack of respect and understanding that DOTARS and the Commonwealth Government displays in dealing with our island communities or addressing our real needs and problems.
The government model that was imposed on Christmas Island was a "Local Government" model, with a 9 member Shire council. State type functions are outsourced to the West Australia government, who in turn often outsource them to private contractors. West Australia law "applies" to Christmas Island unless special exemptions are made, but the Christmas Island Shire is not consulted in either of these areas. They have very little input into anything other than their municipal responsibilities.

"Our Future in Our Hands" is a submission from the Christmas Island Shire to the Inquiry into Governance Arrangements in the Indian Ocean Territories in August 2005. It makes frightening reading, as we learn how time and time again, the efforts of the Christmas Island shire to govern for their people is frustrated and obstructed, while Canberra and DOTARS ignore their real needs and renege on commitments.

We read of things like:

"discriminatory practices of a Government that is still paternalistic but becoming less benevolent as time goes by"
"the beneficial normalisation of the island in the 1980's has given way to a policy aimed at making Christmas Island like a community on the mainland. 'Treat alike' has become 'Make the same' "
"Colonial style decision making....is largely unaccountable. Decisions are paternalistic; that is, they are for the community's 'own good' whether they like it, or understand it, or not."
"the Commonwealth has done effectively very little to involve, engage or facilitate the community in its own economic development."
"lack of access to advice and resources to develop community capacity."
"We have a vision for ourselves...we live here. You don't.....You have so little understanding about us. You deny our past, we live with it. You make decisions about our future, but leave us to experience the effects of your decisions" (to Minister Lloyd during protest about "No Casino Licence")
"The community suffers from consultation fatigue and has become cynical about the potential of any inquiry to deliver outcomes or benefits."
"Overall, Government decisions have undermined the economic development of the Island, particularly the ability of the community to be more self-sufficient."
"The Commonwealth...wants the island to be dependent on it, provides fillips via capital works instead of long-term sustainability measures, places its own strategic interests above that of the community, and provides lip service salves in any effort to create a perception that it is doing something, when in fact it is doing very little.....the community is left to fight over the tidbits offered like mendicants."

Those Norfolkers who trust that coming under greater Commonwealth control will solve the island's problems or give greater social and economic security to us either as a community or as individuals should think again. This 274 page report can be accessed at

www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/ncet/iotgovernance/subs/sub010

It may not be a case of going forward, or even sideways like the crab.........we may well go backwards if we do not learn a lesson from the Christmas Island story.