NORFOLK ISLAND AND THE UNITED NATIONS - part2

Norfolk Island has been barred from making a direct approach to the United Nations in the past. We may have been able to appeal to the Committee dealing with de-colonisation but Australia conveniently omitted to tell that organisation that we were a non-self-governing territory, and not part of metropolitan Australia....and no one thought to question it.
Is there anything we can do about it now?
Back in 1978, when our appeal to the U.N. had been unsuccessful, our case was taken up by the United Nations Association of Australia. The President of the Association at the time was Richard Alston, but most of the spadework and and the subsequent report were the result of the efforts of their Media Officer John Bulbeck. The very clear and comprehensive report produced stated unequivocally that Norfolk Island had been wronged and misrepresented as to its true legal and constitutional status over a long period of time.
However, around that time, the Hon. Robert Ellicot had taken over as Minister responsible for Territories, and was obviously much more favourably disposed towards Norfolk Island's aspirations. Therefore, it was not deemed necessary to press the island's case before the U.N. any further, because it appeared that we were to be set on the path to self-determination anyway.
In hindsight, we would have been better to have waited, and had our status as a non-self-governing territory clearly established before embarking on the journey to self-determination. If we had done that, the process would have been monitored internationally, and we would have some real leverage and ammunition now. But as usual, our goodwill and trusting nature worked in Australia's favour. And now they continue to have the upper hand.
So is it too late?
Well, just think about the "Australianisation" process that has gone on in the meantime. Not only have many Norfolkers become Australian citizens by default simply because they were born here, but in the past few years, you have more or less had to take out Australian citizenship if you wanted to qualify for residency. And now it is essential even if you want to vote or stand for the Assembly. Australian citizens have even been given the right to vote in Australian elections, although we said that we did not want it. So if an international body looks at Norfolk Island, and finds out that most of us are Australian citizens, they say "Well, what's the problem? You must be part of Australia."
Pretty cunning.
Would other member states of the United Nations be prepared to support us? Maybe. But you must realise that every single country is there basically to represent its own interests, and votes at the direction of its own government at home. Norfolk Island would not rank very high on their list of concerns. The U.N. does a lot of good things, through their humanitarian programmes and peacekeeping, but championing the cause of little places that do not have a voice of their own is not a high priority. I am sorry if that sounds cynical, but it comes from frustration.
What about our Pacific neighbours? Would they speak up for us in the U.N. General Assembly or sponsor our appeal?No doubt they would have some sympathy for us, but nowadays, they are so hopelessly enmeshed in the strings that are attached to the Foreign Aid they receive from Australia that they may need to think twice before openly supporting our cause! Trade deals and other agreements that countries have with each other further complicate the situation.
I am told it may be possible to take our case to the U.N. Committee of Human Rights, but we must be sure we have the political will and necessary funding. Does that mean we will have Minister Lloyd shaking his finger at us, and warning us about using public funds, as he did over the High Court Case?
Maybe in the end, it will still be up to you and me....to speak up, let as many people as you can know what is happening, write letters, make your views known to our own Assembly as well as Australia's representatives and bureaucrats. It doesn't matter if you do not think you are good with words...just tell it like it is, from your own point of view. Get on the phone or the fax, take up your pen, sit down at your computer. If you really love this island, do it from the heart and with passion.
Norfolk may just be a tiny place in the scheme of things, but it would appear that we are extremely important to Australia.....important enough for Australia to shamelessly and dishonestly ignore our rights over as long period of time.