“Your Parliament – Your Voice”

From the Office of the Speaker

Commonwealth Day 2012

I am sure readers will join with me in offering congratulations to three of our young people who are currently working in London and who have been chosen to represent Norfolk at the Commonwealth Day celebrations being held in London on Commonwealth Day – the 14^th March 2012.  They are Tim Gatehouse (son of Chris and Karen), Tennille Christian (daughter of John and Kerry) and Leah Christian (daughter of Enoch and Coral).

 

                                                                                                   

 Tim Gatehouse

Leah Christian

    Tennille Christian

 Congratulations to you all and we know you will represent Norfolk well.  The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) programme for the Commonwealth Day Event in London for 2012 will be held in Westminster House.  The day will start with an introduction by Dr William F. Shija, Secretary-General, CPA and Mr David Broom, Director Finance & Administration, CPA.  Participants will enjoy a tour of the Houses of Parliament and partake in question time on the subjects of “What does an MP actually do”? and “What does the work of a High Commissioner involve”?  They will then enjoy lunch followed by attending the Commonwealth Day Observance at Westminster Abbey, at which Her Majesty the Queen as Head of the Commonwealth will be present as will all Commonwealth High Commissioners in London. 

Tennille was very lucky to be selected by CPA Headquarters to also attend the Commonwealth Secretary-General’s evening reception that night, also in the presence of Her Majesty.  There are only limited seats available to this evening reception and we were most pleased to learn that they had picked a Norfolk Island representative.

Formal launch of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal on Norfolk Island

In 2010 the Australian Parliament amended the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Clth) to allow applications to be made to the Tribunal for the review of decisions made in the exercise of powers conferred by Norfolk Island enactments that are mentioned in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Regulations. With Justice Garry Downes presiding the Administrative Appeals Tribunal was formally launched in the Court House at Old Military Barracks on Thursday 1 March 2012.   His Honour the Administrator Mr Owen Walsh and Chief Minister Hon David Buffett AM MLA joined Justice Downes on the bench, both acknowledging the potential benefits to flow to the Norfolk Island community through the future work of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal on our Island.

Visit of Her Excellency the Governor of Queensland, Ms Penelope Wensley AC

We look forward to welcoming to Norfolk Her Excellency the Governor of Queensland, Ms Penelope Wensley AC and Mr Stuart McCosker who are visiting our shores from 2 to 6 March 2012.  A number of official engagements have been arranged for Her Excellency during her visit including attending the International Women’s Day Reception hosted by the Administrator at Paradise Hotel on Sunday afternoon and a morning tea with Members of the Legislative Assembly on Monday morning.  A warm welcome is extended to Her Excellency and Mr McCosker.

March sitting of the Legislative Assembly

The next scheduled sitting of the Legislative Assembly is Wednesday 7 March 2012 at 10 am. Matters programmed for the sitting can be read elsewhere in this publication.

To read the Notice Paper, Programme and Minutes of Proceedings and legislation tabled in the House go to www.info.gov.nf. Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 2 March 2012 and posted on the blog site http://yourparliamentyourvoice.blogspot.com