FAIR PLAY

This is the day that many Aussies will be protesting against what they regard as unfairness in the new Industrial Relations laws. Meanwhile, the whole country from the PM down seems to be mourning the elimination of the Socceroos from the World Cup because of a "dodgy" referee's call.
One of our locals was moved to pen the following:

Dear Prime Minister,
Now that, thanks to the Socceroos, all Australia knows what it is like to have an unfair decision made against one, don’t you think it is an appropriate time to re-consider the case for Norfolk Island?
Yours Sincerely,

**********

In case you were wondering if anyone out there is actually listening and actually cares about injustice to Norfolk Island, you may be interested in the fact that the following questions have been tabled to be asked in the British House of Commons by the member for Romford, Mr Andrew Rosindell M.P.

1.Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether there is a mechanism by which Norfolk Island could petition the Government to secede as a self-governing Australian Territory and become a self-governing British Overseas Territory.
2.Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether she plans to visit Norfolk Island.
3.Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's policy is on Australia's proposed changes to the governance of Norfolk Island.
4.Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government has had discussions with the Australian government on the sovereignty of Norfolk Island since 2000.

Now in the past, Norfolk Island has been traditionally regarded as very loyal to the Crown and proud of its British heritage. But I am not sure that goodwill necessarily extends to the British Government. It should be noted that after a period of benevolent paternalism during the earlier Pitcairn/Norfolk days, the British Colonial authorities underwent a gradual change. The quaint "naive novelty" that Norfolk Island represented had become an "annoying anomaly", and they were only too happy to hand Norfolk Island over, firstly to the colony of New South Wales, and from there to the Commonwealth of Australia without any consultation with the Norfolk Island people.

Of course, Britain may have sincerely believed that Australia would act with greater fairness to their new responsibility than has proved to be the case. Meanwhile, at this present time, the Brits are dealing with their own "annoying anomaly" - Pitcairn Island" - and many would say that our Bounty cousins over there are faring no better than us under a modern neo-colonial "normalisation" process at the hands of big remote control government.

Nevertheless, the general view has been that as a very small place, we do need to have a close association with someone bigger than ourselves. Complete independence has never been a very popular concept on this island. However, of late, I frequently hear people ask "Well, could we be any worse off?" At least, if we were to go it alone, we would have have control of our own seas, our fishing and potential mineral resources, and we would not be restricted in efforts to establish an Offshore Finance Centre, Internet facilities and enterprises, external and post graduate Education Centes such as Greenwich University, a Shipping Repair facility, and numerous other potential revenue earners which are currently denied to us because of Aussie red tape. Perhaps we could emulate other Pacific Islands and vie for financial support from nations such as Taiwan and China in return for recognition at the U.N.

If these all seem a bit "pie in the sky", then just consider the possibility of having a share in the amount of around $700 million that is to be distributed in aid (mainly towards governance) to our Pacific neighbours this financial year!! And without all the strings attached that are currently holding us back.

Many people bemoan the fact that New Zealand's push to take on responsibility for Norfolk Island a century or so ago came to nothing. That country seems to exercise a far greater level of respect and cultural sensitivity in its dealings with the Cook Islands and Tokelau.

We cannot turn the clock back. But collective memories endure. Issues from the past remain with us, and modern day policies, masquerading as moves to "ensure a stronger and sustainable future" will only compound the problems of injustice and unfairness that have characterised both Britain's and Australia's dealings with the Norfolk Island people.

Now is the time that we need a genuine and open round table to thrash out these issues. We do not need pre-determined policies or unilateral decisions. We need more than lipservice to the mantras of rights and responsibilities. We need recognition that the Norfolk community is unique - not merely in a quaint cultural sense - but unique in matters that go right to the heart of fair, sound and responsible governance. And in this modern world where globalisation and normalisation dominate policy and action, we need to ensure that the voice of the individual, little person, and the little island -such as Norfolk - is clearly heard and respected.