PUTTING IT TO THE TEST

In a democracy, people elect governments, governments make laws, and then the judges decide whether those laws are being kept as they were intended to.
And that will be the job of the High Court when it meets to hear the Norfolk Island case today.
But while we must leave it to the Honorable judges to test whether Australia has acted properly and constitutionally in legislating for Norfolk Island, we should be very concerned about the fairness of what is going on in the Australian parliament.
As I said, the politicians there are elected by the Australian people, usually on the grounds of their policies, abilities and record. It is their job to ascertain the needs and views of their constituents whom they represent. This initially happens at the ballot box, but during their term of office it is achieved by talking and listening, consulting and studying issues. If they get it wrong, then they will find out when they go back to the ballot box.
The trouble is that we currently have Australian politicians making sweeping and distorted statements and allegations in the Australian parliament about Norfolk Island, which is not even in their constituency. Not only are they making these statements under Parliamentary privilege, but what they claim will not be put to the test. Moreover, some of the things they are saying may well be influencing the attitude of their colleagues to Norfolk Island and its position, and the news is not good. Nor do we have any redress.
I would like to protest in the strongest terms about statements such as these made in the Australian Senate. This includes the following statements made by two senators to persuade anyone who may think otherwise that the Norfolk community wants the changes they propose.
Senator Carr:"in my opinion there are a majority of people on the island that desperately want to see substantial reform" ..."It is my opinion the islanders do want change"....."Many have judged that the current arrangements are in fact a failure and must be changed. As I said most islanders believe that is the case.'
Senator Hogg:"I would have enjoyed being there to witness the change in attitude that has come across both the Norfolk Island government and also a number of leading players in the business community and in the community at large in the island."
I am sorry, Senators, but your flying visits to the island, listening and talking to a few chosen people, relying heavily on views expressed in confidential sessions (which cannot be tested in any public arena) have not given you the right to make these claims.
I have written nearly 100 columns for Angelsandeagles, and have been told by many, many people of all ages and backgrounds that I have put into words what they are feeling. But the views are still my own, based on my love of this island and 40 years of living here and mixing with many parts of the community. I may well represent a majority view, but I would never make bold claims to that effect. Our Norfolk Action group has made a couple of wide and comprehensive polls and surveys which suggest that most people feel like I do. The island has had countless referenda in the past which have indicated that most people want to keep Norfolk Island making decisions for itself. In a democracy, you learn about that sort of thing properly at the ballot box.
However, not only have Senate Joint Standing Committees cast slurs on our past referenda, not only have they belittled our own elected government, but they deny us the right to speak for ourselves in a properly conducted poll on this very issue, which affects us here to the core of our existence.
Of equal concern are misleading statements and allegations such as these:
Senator Carr:(Confidential submissions) are from people who oppose the oligarchy of the rich and the powerful that run the island.......there are those on the island fighting hard to protect their vested interest and their privileged tax status". ..."well-orchestrated efforts by island diehards who would have us believe that Norfolk Island is some sort of Utopia with no social problems"....."beneath the surface informal mechanisms are being allowed to operate with impunity"..."increasingly obvious incapacity of the Norfolk Island government to provide islanders with basic service provision in such fundamental areas as aged care, pensions, health and medical benefits."...."basic services like telephones, power, water (!!!), roads, port facilities and garbage disposal... These are fundamental human rights...but they are not being provided on Norfolk Island." (Senate, Monday 30th October)
I am probably labelled as one of the diehards, but I just do not recognise the picture painted by Senator Carr. It is vitriolic and unsustainable. Take the trouble to read the transcripts in our local press, and I am sure you will be appalled by the sarcasm and innuendo, even from the Chair, about the people of this island. I recognise the need for ongoing change and accountability, and am prepared to embrace the many changes and demands that are needed to meet our challenges. But they should be made by our Norfolk Island government for the people of Norfolk island.
Senators, your words and actions are damaging and maligning us, and you have allowed us no redress either at the ballot box, or in the forum in which you make your allegations.
Is that justice?
The High Court sits today in Canberra at 10.15 to hear the Norfolk Island Case. There will quite a number of Norfolkers there, including many who have made the journey from the island specially. No doubt the media will be far more interested in the Melbourne Cup and in the Murray-Darling Water Summit, but this is an important day for all those who are proud of Norfolk Island, cherish the Island's historic identity, rights and values, and want to resist the push to absorb us completely into mainstream Australia.