WHOSE RIGHTS? WHO'S RIGHT?

It has been a great week to be on Norfolk Island. There has been a wonderful influx of family and friends, not to mention all those Norfolkers-in-exile who have taken the opportunity to come home to share in the festivities, and to feel proud to be part of a very unique race of people, with a distinct identity and a wonderful heritage. All week, Norfolkers have been bumping into other Norfolkers, and recognising their kinship, often just from facial features or an intonation of voice. There has been a marvellous feeling of family pride, good fun and camaraderie.
But no one -not even those Norfolkers who are proud of their Australian citizenship and see Norfolk Island as part of Australia - would claim that this community is just the same as every other part of Australia historically, ethnically and culturally.
But Canberra does not see it that way.
A 1975 Senate Report clearly stated that Norfolk Island's population was ethnically and culturally akin to that of "the mainland".
We are also told that Norfolk Island does not come under the United Nation's definition of a non-self-governing territory, because, according to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in Australia "that resolution refers to a territory which is geographically separate and is distinct ethnically and/or culturally from the country administering it."(1999) Evidently, in their eyes, this does not describe Norfolk Island.
This statement was made by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission when dealing with four complaints made in 1996-7 about Norfolk Island's Immigration Act.
The Commission found that Norfolk Island's Immigration Act."violates the right of all Australians to liberty of movement and freedom of choice of residence..."
The same Commission also stated that Norfolk Island did not need an Immigration regime separate from that of Australia "because it is not necessary to protect the island's environment or the culture of the Pitcairn descendants."
Sadly, the recommendations of the Commission are shortly to be acted on, if Canberra and the Minister have their way.
I do not know how the powers in Canberra deal with the "geographic" and "ethnic" distinctiveness issue. However, I suspect they are a little touchy about the "culture" bit, and are bending over backwards to assure us they would like to recognise and preserve the Norfolk Island culture. Hence the Family banner project, and the $25 000 grant announced on Bounty Day for an Oral History Project. I am not saying they are not worthwhile activities, although I did overhear someone suggesting they could at least have managed $1000 for each of our 150 years! The point is that the best way of preserving our culture is to give us the freedom to live it out according to the values and traditions and customs that we have developed and built up over 200+ years. Norfolk's culture will not be preserved by this ceaseless "Australianisation" process that is being forced on us.
Now those visitors who "watched on" the week's celebrations and activities knew that the Norfolk Island community was different. The Norfolk Island people feel different. They know their history and beginnings are quite different from that of Australia, and they know that the Norfolk Way is not to be compared to any other.
The view that Norfolk Island is not distinct from mainland Australia and other Australian communities has serious implications:
1. A person's status as a Norfolk Islander, or as a resident or citizen of Norfolk Island (as distinct from their status as an Australian citizen) can receive no recognition or protection in any policy, law or statute.
2. Norfolk Island has almost no access to help from the United Nations except through Australia.
3. Norfolk Island people will no longer properly call Norfolk Island their homeland, nor will they have any say over who shall come here or live here.

Can we challenge the Human Rights Commission, just once, to consider the rights of the Norfolk Island people? Why must our rights always be secondary to those of Australians?

Read the report of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission at:
http://www.humanrights.gov.au/word/human_rights/norfolk_island.doc-