RESCUE.....OR PILLAGE???

Our N.I. Government ministers have been holding further talks in Canberra. We have had very little feedback at this stage, but it is to be hoped that the debate and dialogue have proceeded on a more reasonable and rational basis than the exaggerated misrepresentations we heard from the Senate debate on the Norfolk Island situation.
Following on from his incredible statements about the lack of provision of basic services and human rights on Norfolk Island....e.g phones, roads, power, garbage disposal,water, pensions, aged care etc, Senator Kim Carr proceeded to criticise "well-orchestrated efforts of island diehards who would have us believe that Norfolk Island is some sort of Utopia." He proceeds to assert, and one wonders where he got his information from, that most islanders want current arrangements to change, and then, in a massive sweep of arrogance, says
"Only the Commonwealth of Australia can guarantee (those) basic human rights."
Let us say from the outset that no one should be apologetic about being very proud of their island, their homeland. Proud of what has been achieved, enthusiastic about our way of life, and very thankful for a good standard of living. Just as you would expect Australians to be proud of their nation.
That does not mean we promote it as Utopia. We have problems like anywhere else ...and we have the means to deal with them. We have faced incredible demands for change in recent decades, and have managed them extremely well..and will continue to do so. We accept that by sheer virtue of our small population and our geographic isolation, there are challenges living here on our small island. Those who were born here have grown up with those challenges, others of us have chosen to accept them because the compensations of living on this island are enormous.
Yes, we accept that freight costs make many things a little dearer here. We often have to wait for the ship to bring needed supplies of this or that item. There is not always the same choice or access you would have living in a larger centre. There may not be the same range of skilled and specialised services and facilities.
But we are resourceful. We improvise and we recycle. We get off our backsides and do things for ourselves instead of sitting round waiting. We become multi-skilled. We sort out our priorities and we get creative. We are careful with our resources, especially our water and our power.....even if it means saving a bit of money using candles in the evening. (But if you drive around the island in the evening, you will know that not many have chosen that course!) We tailor our services so they are targetted to meet our real needs, with the minimum of wastage. Is that such a bad thing in today's world where waste, red tape and mass consumerism are causing such problems?
Above all, most people here feel a sense of responsibility to this community and the well-being of those in it, and there are many individuals and community groups quietly enhancing the lives of those around them, and giving of their time, skills and resources to keep this a very good place to live in.
We are told that there are some shortfalls in labelling and signage on chemicals and hose reels at our airport.......but our government has done a magnificent job in keep the planes flying reliably to this island!
We are told that the hospital storage and maintence shed are not up to (someone else's) standard....but our mums can still have their babies here, and our low tax status enables us to attract quality doctors.
Our visitors tell us time and time again that they envy our way of life, and no one, absolutely no one, has been able to describe any country town or isolated community in Australia, with a similar population, that enjoys anywhere near the level of facilities and services that we have on this island.
I cannot help having this vision of Australian politicians and bureaucrats, fancying themselves as our rescuers, dressed as knights in shining armour, riding in on their white chargers, and scooping up the damsel in distress and carrying her off to their castles. Except that this little island is not a damsel in distress. You simply cannot offer us anything better than we already have or better than we are capable of achieving if we are given a little bit of help and understanding to get on with the job ourselves.
If our Senator friends are really concerned about human rights, democracy and fairness are right there near the top. Instead of trampling on our rights, they should be making a stand to uphold our right to choose for ourselves.