PUBLIC MEETING FOR AN INCREASINGLY DISTRESSED ISLAND

What do you do when you feel you are being ignored, that your questions are not being answered, and your very real concerns are not being addressed? What do you do when you find out your family and friends share your fears for your home and your future?

You call a Public Meeting.

This is what happened last Monday evening. In spite of the fact that Norfolk Radio was not allowed to broadcast details of the planned meeting, over 400 Norfolkers gathered at Rawson Hall to hear local representative stakeholders talk about issues and worries that are gripping the hearts and minds of Norfolk Island people.

Sadly and inexplicably, that number did not include the Australian Government representatives and appointees who are supposed to be making things so much better for Norfolk Island, nor did it include members of the N.I. Advisory Council, whose job it is to represent the island’s people, and convey our views to the Minister in Canberra. They missed a marvellous opportunity to hear firsthand how people are thinking and feeling.
 

Although the idea for the meeting had come from the Norfolk Island People for Democracy, it was very much a Community Meeting, with representatives from a range of community bodies agreeing to speak. The gathering was very ably chaired by Mrs Lisa Richards, and proceeded in a calm and orderly manner. Lisa told us the meeting had been organised in a spirit of sharing information, and that it would be filmed and recorded.

The first speaker, Mr Rael Donde, put forward concerns on behalf of the Accommodation and Tourism Association. Rael told us of the effect that Penalty Rates and other new tax imposts would have on the Hospitality industry. There is also anxiety, he told us, about the lack of guaranteed funding in the future for tourist promotion. Letters to those responsible are going unacknowledged, and this was also a common theme in what other speakers told us. Rael told us that whether it is the employers or the employees in the industry who have to bear the extra costs, it will be bad for the community.

David McCowan shared with us the situation we face on the Health and Medical front. David voiced the view that the changes have been managed very badly. He spoke of the marked increase in incidence of physical and mental disorders and illness as a result of the stress and uncertainty in the community, as reported by both medical staff and the Counsellor. To make matters worse, people are delaying seeking treatment because they are not sure of what their financial situation will be in the future under the changes. The uncertainty also affects hospital staff badly, and at this stage, they will be expected to work under N.S.W. conditions, but only receive 80% of N.S.W. award wages.

Questions from the meeting sought clarification about the ownership of infrastructure and equipment that have, over the years, been provided and donated by individuals and organisations from the Norfolk Island community. David said he believed these assets will be transferred to Commonwealth ownership. Similar concerns, and a degree of anger, were expressed about the fate of “our Post Office” “Our Radio Station” and “Our School”.

Mr John Brown, from the Chamber of Commerce, echoed some of Mr Donde’s views, stressing that little thought had been given to the impact of the new imposts, and that both service levels and employee hours would need to be cut by business enterprises in an effort to survive. John pointed out that so much is funded by tourism, and if that industry cannot survive, there will be flow on implications for the whole Norfolk economy. John also disclosed that initially, a number of members of the Chamber of Commerce had been quite supportive of the reforms, but that several had since changed their minds because they are alarmed at recent developments.

The next to address us was Mr Dennis Sterling, representing the fishing and boating community, and the Fishing Association in particular. Dennis addressed the issues of the upgrading of the Cascade Pier, the licensing of boats under NSW regulations, and the effects of new Occupational Health and Safety Rules. Dennis believes none of these matters have been thought through properly, local advice has been ignored, and there will be negative impacts on both recreational and commercial fishing, boating, and lighterage.

Speaking as a private citizen, Dennis expressed concern about supplies of rock, and his sadness about other changes to be imposed on our familiar landscape and routines, something that seemed to strike a chord with the audience.
Mr Donald Reynolds spoke to us briefly about the lack of clear information coming from the Commonwealth Information office. He also canvassed the difficulties being encountered by many local people because gifting and assets are affecting their eligibility for pensions and aged care.

Andre Nobbs then addressed us, mentioning the island wide distress, and the derision and defamation that Norfolk Island people have been subject to. He assured us that we are not fighting alone, and that we enjoy the support of many key and influential people around the world, and many are prepared to put weight and resources behind our cause. Andre spoke of potential legal and constitutional challenges that may leverage off our U.N. petition. One interesting bit of information was that it has been possible to find good statistics about how much the Commonwealth receives from fishing licences in our EEZ. Although these facts are masked by the Australian Government, those who actually pay for the licences have been able to supply the figures. In particular, RealStew have offered enormous support, giving us access to their 400 000 members, and to many of their resources. Andre thanked the many individuals and organisations both on and off the island for taking a stand on our behalf. “We have some big and exciting weeks ahead” he said.

Albert Buffett said a few words as President of the Council of Elders. The Council, he emphasised, was not a political body, but has been inundated with calls for some action by island people who are increasingly dismayed because they believe our culture is in danger. He told us that a list of concerns conveyed to the Minister after their meeting with him in January has never been acknowledged.
 

The meeting was very encouraged to hear Mr Geoff Gardner, representing the Norfolk Island People for Democracy, update us on the progress of our application to the U.N. Committee for Decolonisation for inscription on the list of non-selfgoverning territories. It was good to hear that nearly all of the boxes have been ticked, the accompanying reports are complete, and that the petition will be presented to the U.N. in New York next week, with Albert Buffett, Ken Christian and Mr Geoffrey Robertson Q.C. in attendance. Significant media coverage is planned. This news, which represents the culmination of many months of hard work, and considerable expense, brought an enthusiastic applause from the audience. Geoff also told us that NIPD’s communications to the Minister are no longer acknowledged.

Obviously all pretence of consultation has been abandoned.

It was announced that a community gathering was planned for next Wednesday 27^th April at 3 p.m. outside the Legislative Assembly building, and that a get-together and fundraiser was also planned for the following day, the 28^th April, marking the 227^th anniversary of the Mutiny on the Bounty.

Spirits continued to be lifted when Mr Dean McLachlan, who is in charge of our current media campaign, urged us to participate and get on board with letting the world know our story. Dean warned us that the powers-that-be will try to counter our message using the strategies of ignore/muddy the message/lie/ attack/ threaten…and that we need to be highly motivated and determined. He spoke of the crowdfunding campaign to start in a few days, telling us that the this is the very first political campaign that the Canadian company Fundrazr has taken on, because they are so convinced of the justice of our cause. We were encouraged to show our hands to demonstrate our solidarity and resolve.

 
By this time, there was a smile on everyone’s face, and we felt we were strong enough to take on the world, with the support of our many friends.

It was Chelsea Evans who wrapped up the evening for us, with a heartfelt and passionate plea, spoken in Norfolk, to stay strong and get involved, and think about COMMUNITY and COMMUTINY.

The evening finished with a rousing singing of the Pitcairn Anthem.

I have not done justice to the speakers…they shared so much with us, in many cases confirming our fears, and making us aware of other injustices we had not known about.

The spirit of the evening, however, is best summed up with a few key phrases and pronouncements we heard.

“I can’t get the smile off my face (from the Chair after Geoff Gardner spoke)

“What is the point of reforms if it doesn’t increase the well-being of the community?”

“They are dismembering this community until they rip the heart out.”

“The community is angry, helpless and frustrated.”

“A vibrant commercial sector is critical to the economy.”

“Our young people are just starting to realise Aussie’s promises are falling into a hole.”

“People are putting their reputations on the line for Norfolk Island.”

“Yorlye get stuck in and stick together.”

“Let us demonstrate our desire to bring back some order to our lives.”

“We are going to win over the hearts and minds of the world, including the Australian people.”

“You can’t IGNORFOLK!”

“We’ll keep fighting lorng as we haw!”