Here is a piece written by Tet, a local fellow, who is passionate about his island home, and strongly desires to see thaty any changes are just and productive.
Editorial to the Commonwealth of Australia.

I have had enough of the uncertainty and the destabilising affects of the Roadmap and the Funding agreement.  My brain is saturated with academia reports, my mind is clouded because of little if any outcomes, and I simply cannot absorb any more propaganda and bureaucracy.

In my opinion Commonwealth politicians and public servants do not have Norfolk Island as fore and most a place that is home to original Pitcairn Island descendants and others that followed.  At the end of the day we are an Ethnic Minority.  Politicians come and politicians go.  In Australia politicians are part of a political party and are elected on party propaganda.  In Norfolk Island politicians are elected on a popular vote.  One would assume that the voting public would vote based on policies.  One thing is for certain; politicians are not guaranteed to be politically intelligent.  What keeps the politicians honest?  The service.  Public servants are not itinerant and they form a continuity party regardless of the political arena of the day.  So who is actually at the helm and running Australia and Norfolk Island?  So who is actually at the helm and representing the community members of Norfolk Island?  Well don’t jump to conclusions!  For the first time in decades and the first time in many generations of Norfolk Islanders; the outgoing Administrator of Norfolk Island was at the helm.

Was this paradigm change coincidental or deliberate?  Was this paradigm change because of the individual?  Once again and going back in Administrator history; Norfolk Island has successfully embraced progression with an ex-military Administrator with no political persuasion or agenda.  In the last six months I have written to Minister Briggs nominating a very revered and well-credentialed retired Royal Australian Airforce Air Commodore as the next Administrator of Norfolk Island.  If anyone would like to read the response I received from Minister Briggs give me a call.  I will leave it up to you to assume the reply otherwise.  NSW for instance has had absolute political neutrality of appointed Governors for many generations and soon to be another ex-serving high ranking military person.  No political persuasion and it works.  I consider ex-military appointments as jobs in support of the community whereas ex-politicians are jobs for the boys.

As I wrote my brain is saturated so I won’t try to recall specifics and/or reports, but, in hind sight where did the spiralling intergovernmental relations and outcomes begin to get out of control?  May I suggest we put aside the lack of money and arguments about political sustainability just for a moment?   Why in God’s name did both Governments sign a Roadmap and a Funding Agreement that has no end date!  The Roadmap does not hold Australia liable at all, rather, it gives Australia political clout to pounce on Norfolk Island if the Commonwealth are not happy.  What if Norfolk Island is not happy?

Norfolk Island has been bullied by the Commonwealth and regrettably the Norfolk Island Government has allowed it to happen.  Despite reams and reams of paper the Commonwealth public servants have not identified the immediate want and need in Norfolk Island.  The Commonwealth and the Roadmap is or has changed Norfolk Island from a “blue collar” community to a “white collar” dominance.  All chiefs and no Indians.  Bureaucracy gone mad.

Not once did I recall in any Commonwealth report recommending that to ensure sustainability in Norfolk Island for the Norfolk Islanders “A NEED TO IMMEDIATELY IMPLEMENT SUBSTANTIAL CAPITAL FUNDS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AS A HIGH PRIORITY TO ENSURE THE NORFOLK ISLANDERS CAN CONTINUE TO CO-EXIST AND SURVIVE IN NORFOLK ISLAND NOW AND IN TO THE FUTURE”.  Not once!  Norfolk Islanders are predominantly blue collar workers.  I will give you a very simple example.  I can guarantee you (yes guarantee) that if the Commonwealth had given the Norfolk Island Government upwards of $30M over three (3) years to fix our roads we would still have all of our blue collar Islanders as permanent residents.  Permanent residents who are paying their way, paying taxes, and carving a path for their children and their heritage.  In this instance Norfolk Island would be the winner.  Not once did the Commonwealth consider this, four years later, all of our blue collar workers are gone and we have a new breed of residents.

How did these new residents get here?  The Norfolk Island Government bowed down to the Roadmap and ‘loosened’ up the Immigration Act 1980.  New residents this is nothing against you as you now have all the right in the world to be here.  One thing is for sure though; the Commonwealth didn’t care about the New Zealander residents on Norfolk Island, and if it wasn’t for the Norfolk Island Government, those individuals that were GEP’s will still be GEP’s and the latest New Zealand residents would not be here.  What about the TEP then GEP then Resident Islanders who demonstrated their commitment to the Island over 8+ years and stayed through thick and thin and became residents?  How much did they outlay in that journey?  Does the new residents have to pay for that commitment – NO!  They can come and they can go!  Arrive today and resident tomorrow.  Just another example of the bullying.

I won’t even begin on the health portfolio.   We have been kicked from pillar to post by both the Commonwealth and the NSW State Health public servants.  If you need to know more about these antics and rough handedness then contact me.  Disgusting and without any consideration of the demographic verses history verses outcomes for decades.  Bullying.

I have written before and I will write again – fix tourism and you fix Norfolk Island.  The alternative is for Norfolk Island to endure this bullying and become a welfare state.  There is no other immediate income stream.  Another example of the bullying is upon us whereby if Norfolk Islanders don’t pay land rates and land taxes then the Commonwealth will not extend Cascade Jetty for passenger ship opportunity.  Forcing taxes where there is no guarantee of visitations and/or successful disembarkation. The Commonwealth are notorious for inflated project costs and they will want to hold that carrot in front of us and use it as leverage for condemnation.  I mean where will the rock come from?  Double the project cost and bring it in!  That’s right!  Fiscal mismanagement and bullying.

Honestly the Roadmap does not hold the Commonwealth liable for anything.  There is to be a new Administrator commencing on the 30^th June 2014 for at least two years.  I sincerely hope and pray that the Hon Gary Hargrave acknowledges and supports the Norfolk Island Government in every way possible and uses our Chief Minister as a conduit for communication to his community.  Another first during the past 27 months is the past Administrator providing regular fortnightly updates on radio or in the media – just another example of destabilisation.  Why did the Chief Minister of Norfolk Island allow this to happen?  As I wrote guess who was running this Island?  In addition I sincerely request that the incoming Administrator meets, listens, and cooperates with the Norfolk Island Government and the Council of Elders, and within a very short timeframe, work with the Norfolk Island Government to repeal the Roadmap and Funding Agreement.  This is not impossible because once the Hon Hargrave personally experience the bullying by the Commonwealth it should be a case of “if I don’t then I am responsible for not assisting the Norfolk Island Government for the immediate wants and needs of the community for sustainability and prosperity now and in to the future”.  Time to help this community build a bridge Hon Gary Hargrave.

Tet

Dear Sir,

Editorial to the Norfolk Island Government.

I believe in Oct 2010 the Norfolk Island Government (NIG) of the day immaturely signed a Roadmap with no end date and no key performance milestones set out to measure the Commonwealth on deliveries.  This was totally irresponsible and certainly not in the best interest of the Norfolk Island community.  Ever since then the Roadmap has been used to crucify the Norfolk Island Government.  Abysmal and lacking political and fiscal maturity.  I ask; would each of our government representatives sign a financial institution (Bank) contract without an end date and/or without how much and when?  Ludicrous to think it but it did happen.  And to make matters worse the NIG signed another ‘loose’ agreement called the Funding Agreement that is holding the NIG and the community members to ransom.

I have heard that the NIG has to seek approval of the Commonwealth to place the party lights in Burnt Pine during the Christmas in July.  You are kidding me.  This got me off to a bad start this morning.

Monday the 30^th June 2014 begins a new era in the Intergovernmental opportunities between the NIG and the Commonwealth.  A new Administrator is in the chair.  I encourage the NIG to embrace this opportunity as one of change.  Change is an interesting concept.  Any change is either well thought out and implemented or lacks leadership and planning and becomes problematic.

This NIG and previous governments since 2010 have lacked foresight and has become subservient to the bullying by the Commonwealth. If I was to sign a Roadmap I would have certainly insisted that the Commonwealth agree to pay up front on projects to ensure stability and certainty for our community, and without doubt, the Norfolk Islanders will be able to continue living and working and supporting the running costs for this beautiful self-government Island.  I would never sign anything without an exit date.  Four years later and many of our blue collar workers have gone to seek greener pastures.  Families unlikely to return for at least the next generation – probably more unfortunately.

Since the Roadmap the NIG have been listening too much to the Commonwealth.  Apart from loosening immigration, listening to bureaucrats in NSW Health, initiating land rates/taxes, increasing cost of living, etc you have believed that the Commonwealth will stand firm on their commitments and deliver.  This is sad.  In government you get nothing for nothing.  There is always a tag to everything.  In the mean time your community is abound with uncertainty BIG time.

The NIG has not identified the absolute real need.  Not at all.  Ignorance is no excuse.  I have written before that Norfolk Island is all about hard working Islanders on the land and in the sea and everything to do with hands on.  Blue collar workers.  In the successful years the Islanders rarely did hospitality or white collar work because this was work and opportunity for outside labour.  This was abundant because of a simplistic tourism destination unencumbered with bureaucracy but filled with enthusiasm and vigour.  Sadly this is seriously lacking and has been for some time.  Why?  Because successive governments have been converted from grass roots successes to unrealistic virtual marketing.  The people who were loyal over many decades didn’t embrace the change and sought other preferred markets.  Norfolk Island hasn’t changed, rather, only the people have changed.  The World of Norfolk – how much did that cost?  Whatever happened to “No Better Place”.  Tourism does now appear to be back on track but the recovery could be a generation of travellers.  Poor decisions in the past.

This same analogy applies to politicians.  This government inherited shortfalls and has continued to fall short so far.  It lacks leadership in all portfolios, it is not resourceful, it is lacking initiative and improvisation, and continues to allow the big Commonwealth roller to bamboozle them with bureaucracy.  This government has not represented this community for reasons of our votes.  If you as individuals decide to embrace change it can only get better from here!

You gave in to immigration changes.  Why?  The influx of new residents will not be as prosperous as getting our own people back home.  Current Norfolk Island residents are either by heritage or birth or by commitment through the lengthy entry permit protocols.  The long term residents are more committed to Norfolk Island and generally speaking they want to be here for their inheritance, children, and work.

All I hear is hardship – nothing prosperous.  It is evident that you have decided to tax for prosperity.  The working population is diminishing and you expect to meet financial targets.  You have lost the plot.  Fancy bringing in land taxes and land rates when you have absolutely no idea what assistance the Commonwealth will grace us with because of this taxation.  No taxes no Cascade Jetty.  What a load of rubbish.  Stand up and tell the Commonwealth money up front or blast off.  They will get their royalties down the track.  Another one - turn the hospital in to a first aid post – pathetic.  The notion that public hospitals and aging social service demands make profits is just unrealistic so just give us help up front or triage off. 

Once again I go back to the blue collar worker.  Just think about it.  Build roads and bridges and everything gets connected.  Ask the Commonwealth for infrastructure funds now.  I suggest $30M over the next three (3) years and guess what?  Our Islanders your families will return, they will have work, they can pay their way, businesses put tax your way, you pay your bills, you plan for the future, you get your enterprises to embark on research and development for the betterment of Norfolk Island, you become innovative, you sell your innovation to the Pacific, you reduce the Commonwealth contingent liability, and you are the lighthouse of the Pacific.  All this whilst the NIG and the Commonwealth are assessing the Norfolk Island future for financial sustainability and survivability.  Strive to achieve certainty.  That’s what we elected you in government for!

What have you done about alternate or innovative income streams?  From my perspective – nothing.  You have sat back and counted tourist numbers and done nothing.  If you need ideas on income opportunities then an option is to ask similar self-governments in your region or your own private sector.  You will have to convert ideas in to political fiscal budgeting of course, but and a BIG but, you only have to look at your own back yard.  You have legislation that you can change to be commercially supportive and selective without going to the Commonwealth.  I KNOW THAT YOU WILL TRY TO REMIND ME THAT BECAUSE OF THE ROADMAP YOUR HANDS ARE TIED – WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH!  Ask the Commonwealth what they have done for sustainability?  They will remind you that they have put so many millions of dollars in to the NIG coffers including paying out Norfolk Air and other injections.  This is propaganda.

What have you done about implementing a forced saving scheme so that in the end your community members will have that saving for the rainy day?  Call it superannuation call it what you like.  I made representation to the NIG in 2007-2010 to legislate as such, and as it would have been a staggered approach, on 1 July 2014 all employers will be aligned with the Commonwealth and contributing to employees nominated fund managers.  All saving options would be portable by now and every employee on Norfolk Island will have contributed to a super fund awaiting the maturity date.  In effect reducing the NIG contingent liability in a finite period down the road.  The NIG could have partnered this for great returns for all stakeholders.  This was and remains a lack of foresight by the NIG.

Ladies and gentlemen of the NIG I challenge you to embrace a little bit of foresight and leadership.  The challenge will be as one government without backstabbing and lip service.  Embark on a money think tank, seek assistance, listen and learn (maybe), take it and run, and then implement and measure for sustainability.

Grow some leadership legs and build a relationship with the new Administrator and review the Roadmap.  Get rid of it and the Funding Agreement.  What are they going to do?  Sit back and watch the NIG try to rebuild for sustainability and hopefully support your initiatives and perhaps pour money in to Norfolk?  They won’t walk away I can guarantee that! 

Despite being disappointed at the NIG lack of Governance and leadership I must now place a lot of emphasis on the imminent change of the Administrator as a last bastion for the NIG to ‘kickstart’ new intergovernmental relations and arrangements so that this community can realise immediate and positive outcomes, immediate stability, and sustainable certainty.  I would like to tag this change as “Norfolk Island – A New Generation for Prosperity”

Tet

Tet has written a response to Neil Pope's outburst at the Joint Standing Committee hearings. I will try to obtain an electronic copy to post here.