27 Aug 2021

Norfolk Islanders want Canberra's people out

1:20 pm on 27 August 2021

A meeting on Norfolk Island this week has led to a demand that the federal minister and the top four administrators resign.

The meeting concluded it had no confidence in the assistant minister for overseas territories, Nola Marino, nor the island's administrator, Eric Hutchinson, his assistant Oliver Holm, the interim administrator, Michael Colreavy, and the general manger of the regional council, Andrew Roach.

All Canberra appointees, they have been given until this evening to respond.

Norfolk Island

Norfolk Island Photo: Wikipedia

The meeting had been called because of concerns at the islanders' lack of say in how the island is managed.

There are worries about education and health- currently provided by New South Wales but moving to Queensland - wasteful spending, the imposition of land rates and the appalling state of the economy.

In a statement the meeting attendees said the five should resign to prevent any further damage to the health, culture and wellbeing of the Norfolk Island community.

The meeting also demanded a democratic self government be re-established on Norfolk, to allow the islanders to control their future and their economic and social wellbeing.

The chair of the meeting lawyer, John Brown, estimated about 100 people attended.

It is the latest development in a struggle by many on the island against the manner of the Australian takeover in 2015, when Canberra abolished the island's legislature.

A plea to be included on the list of non self-governing territories remains before the United Nations.