I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW

A couple of months ago, I posted some tongue-in-cheek questions that Canberra should be asking about Norfolk Island.
This time, there are some questions to which I would genuinely like answers.

1. Why did the Australian Government make up its mind about what should happen to Norfolk Island before carrying out all these inquiries and surveys we are having this year?

2.If our economy is in a bad way, what parts of their proposals are designed to stimulate business here (apart from some short term infrastructure projects.) or improve our tourist numbers or airline services?

3. Minister Downer, in a speech on Friday at a Business lunch, dismissed the Australian Bureau of Statistics Survey as not being meaningful. Is this because it told them things they did not want to hear?

4. Can Canberra guarantee that we will continue to have services such as an island based optometrist, when they will no longer be able to operate profitably in such a small population unless they have a low tax base?

5. Will they reassure us that mothers will still be able to have their babies locally, that the number of full-time medical personnel will not be reduced, and that we will not be subjected to long waiting lists for surgery under Medicare?

6. Do they really mean it when they say we can negotiate over what Commonwealth laws should or should not apply here? (They were not interested in our views when they changed our electoral laws.)

7. Will any Australian citizen have the same rights as local Norfolkers to apply for local jobs and contracts, with selection being based purely on merit, with no preference to local residents?
What will happen to local jobs....or will everyone be employed in building the new roads, hospital or work-for-the-dole schemes?

8. The issue of introducing Commonwealth Taxation/welfare and the issue of taking away control of Immigration, Customs and Quarantine are always mentioned separately. Is there any connection?
a. If we can no longer control our Customs revenue, aren't we going to have to rely on Australian money anyway?
b. If any Australian citizen is going to be free to come here, because it is within Australia's Immigration Zone, aren't they going to expect the same benefits and rights as apply in the rest of Australia anyway?
c. What is the real reason for the changes...is it border control and security, is it our economic viability, or is it something else?

9. The current Liberal Government prides itself on turning round a $96 billion deficit since it took over, through hard decisions, good management and changes to taxation (plus some fortuitous changes in the world economic environment.) Why can't they let Norfolk turn things around in the same way?

10. Canberra says it is "moving in" because we are becoming increasingly reliant on Australian hand-outs and loans etc. Isn't it true that the amounts involved in these grants etc. are far less than they would be spending if we came directly under their control?

11. How do they account for the fact that when we took on self-government, we ran it successfully over a long period of time? Isn't it possible that increasing Commonwealth demands for compliance, bureaucratic accountability, and big government type spending have been responsible for most of the recent strain that our locally elected government has experienced in recent times?

12. If Canberra's plans have the effect of turning us into a "basket case" (which has been used to describe Cocos and Christmas Islands), will they be prepared to turn back the clock and give us back self-government?
Or will they solve the problem by making us the responsibility of New South Wales, in the same way they would like to make Christmas Island part of Western Australia?