News to Share this Week 30 April 2012

“Your Parliament – Your Voice”

From the Office of the Speaker

News to share this week –

Her Majesty The Queen's Diamond Jubilee 2012

February 6, 2012 marked the 60^th Anniversary of the accession to the Throne of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On that day in 1952, Princess Elizabeth became Queen, our Sovereign and Head of State. Her Majesty has become the second longest serving Monarch in the history of the Commonwealth of Nations.

A Diamond Jubilee Celebrations Committee comprised of His Honour the Administrator, the Chief Minister, the Speaker, the Minister for Tourism, Ms Tania Anderson (Norfolk Tourism), Mr Allen Bataille (Community Services) and Mr Albert Buffett (Council of Elders) has been established on Norfolk Island to plan a programme of community events.  On 4 June it is planned that there be a lighting of a celebratory beacon throughout the Commonwealth. Buckingham Palace has indicated its desire for Beacons to be activated at the same hour and it is planned that Norfolk Island will participate in this event. Details of the activity, and how the community can participate, and other celebratory activities, will be published in the near future.

It seems most appropriate that we on Norfolk will celebrate Bounty Day on 8 June in the same week as the Commonwealth is acknowledging its ties to Her Majesty the Queen. On Monday, 11 June we continue those celebrations with a public holiday to mark the Queen’s birthday.

Australia’s Small Island Forum – Lord Howe Island 30 April to 5 May 2012

We share the following received from Lord Howe:

“Lord Howe Island will next week be hosting Australia’s Small Island Forum and bringing together leaders of small Island communities from across the globe to share their common challenges in terms of their economic, social and environmental futures.  The Forum will provide a unique opportunity for leaders from governments and territories, business organisations, educational institutions, tourism bodies and small island communities, to actively engage in dialogue around the future of small island communities and to come together to share their challenges and successes.”

The Hon. Simon Crean, Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government had this to say about the Forum.

“I appreciate the complex range of economic, social and environmental challenges that small island communities in Australia are managing. The ‘Australian Small Islands Forum’ is an important initiative for these island communities.”

Norfolk Island will be represented at the Forum by the Hon Andre Nobbs MLA, Minister for Tourism, Industry and Development who will be making a presentation at the Forum on “Tourism and Development Opportunity and Challenges for Small Islands”.  Minister Nobbs is joined by the Hon Tim Sheridan MLA, Minister for Community Services, who will be joining Guest Speaker Anne Prince (Waste Management AP Consulting P/L) in a workshop on waste management strategies.

May sitting of the Legislative Assembly

The next scheduled sitting of the Legislative Assembly is Wednesday 9 May 2012 at 10 am.

To read the Notice Paper, Programme, Minutes of Proceedings and legislation tabled in the House go to www.info.gov.nf. Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 27 April 2012 and posted on the blog site http://yourparliamentyourvoice.blogspot.com

News to share this week.....

“Your Parliament – Your Voice”

From the Office of the Speaker

News to share this week –

Election of 2012 office bearers in the Youth Assembly

The Youth Assembly was started at the Norfolk Island Central School in 1999 and has been growing steadily stronger over the years.  It has a website – www.youthassembly.nlk.nf.  The Youth Assembly came together in the Assembly Chamber on 2 April 2012 for its first formal meeting for the year, to elect its officer bearers and to discuss a range of issues that they would like to address in the next 12 months.  The Youth Assembly is mentored by our Clerk Mrs Gaye Evans JP, Mrs Trish Magri and Mr George Smith.

Mid Year Meeting of the CPA Executive Committee

 Chief Minister David Buffett this week has been attending the mid year meeting of the CPA Executive Committee in Tonga. Executive Committee Members are guests of the Host Branch which funds meals and accommodation; the return cost of travel from Norfolk Island to Tonga is met by CPA Headquarters Secretariat in London. The Australian Region of the CPA fields 3 regional representatives on the Executive Committee; the Commonwealth field’s one representative, the States and Territories together field two representatives on rotation. Mr Buffett is representing the Norfolk Island Branch as Regional Representative on this committee and we look forward to receiving his report on his return this Sunday.

Visit of Australian Region Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Steering Committee 13 to 16 April 2012

Seven Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians from different States and Territories of Australia were on the Island over the weekend for their annual planning meeting; they were joined by Mrs Rhonda Griffiths, Norfolk Island’s delegate on the Committee. The meeting was very successful with a number of key issues being identified including the following: 1. modification of images of the human form, such as airbrushing, in some countries the image is tagged when modified. 2. The testing of Chlamydia under Medicare. 3. Norfolk Island gender issues, reforms and reports to reflect gender equality. The CWP Steering committee will meet once again during the year and will have two teleconference link ups.

Our photo shows the Speaker, the Clerk and Mrs Griffiths MLA taking the opportunity to meet with Andres Lomp, Australian Regional Secretary of the CPA on the potential seen by Mr Lomp for Norfolk to be a bridge to the Pacific and to also be a venue for future joint Australian and Pacific CPA meetings.

May sitting of the Legislative Assembly

The next scheduled sitting of the Legislative Assembly is Wednesday 9 May 2012 at 10 am. The Speaker advised of her absence from the sitting

To read the Notice Paper, Programme, Minutes of Proceedings and legislation tabled in the House go to www.info.gov.nf. Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 20 April 2012 and posted on the blog site http://yourparliamentyourvoice.blogspot.com

Visit of Australian Region Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP)Steering Committee 13 to 16 April 2012

“Your Parliament – Your Voice”

From the Office of the Speaker

Visit of Australian Region Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP)Steering Committee 13 to 16 April 2012

We extend a very warm welcome to –

Ms Lisa Baker MLA ,Chair OF Australian Region CWP Committee,

Member for Maylands, Western Australia Parliament

• Hon Ruth Forrest MLC, Independent Member for Murchison, Tasmanian Parliament
• Mrs Christine Fyffe MLA, Deputy Speaker Legislative Assembly, Member for Evelyn, Victorian Parliament
• Hon Robyn Parker MP, New South Wales Parliament
• Ms Mary Porter MLA, ACT Parliament
• Senator Helen Polley MP, Commonwealth Parliament
• Ms Liz Cunningham MLA, Queensland Parliament

who arrived today (Friday 13 April 2012) via Sydney to hold the annual planning meeting for the CWP.  They are accompanied by Mr Andres Lomp, Australian Regional Secretary of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (the CPA) and Mr Raymond Knight from the CPA Secretariat in Canberra. The Norfolk Island Parliament will be represented at the planning meeting by Acting Deputy Speaker, Mrs Rhonda Griffiths MLA; and a full report on their visit will be published in next week’s issue of Your Parliament Your Voice.

Motion of appreciation to outgoing Administrator Mr Owen Walsh

The House at its sitting on 11 April 2012 was unanimous in its support for the following motion introduced by Chief Minister the Hon David E. Buffett AM MLA

“THAT this House respectively expresses and records its appreciation of the service rendered to Norfolk Island by Owen Edward John Walsh, accompanied by Mrs Walsh, in his role as Official Secretary to the Administrator, Deputy Administrator, Acting Administrator, and over the last three and a half years as Administrator of Norfolk Island. Mr Walsh enhanced the wellbeing of Norfolk Island in the performance of his statutory roles, in his Australian Government representative duties, and accompanied by Mrs Walsh, supporting and encouraging the Island’s considerable range of community activities. Mr Walsh concluded his term on the 31^st of March 2012.  This House wishes them both success and happiness as he continues his career”.

Matters brought before the Legislative Assembly on 11 April 2012

The Legislative Assembly met on Wednesday 11 April 2012 at 10 am and concluded at 4.13 pm with a suspension for lunch between 1.15 pm and 2.30 pm. 

The House rose for a period of silence to acknowledge the passing of Jennifer Joy Cook and Shirley June Fox

Answers were provided both to questions without notice and on notice and the following papers were tabled:

1)      Chief Minister, Mr Buffett - Report of the Legal Aid Advisory Committee

2)             Chief Minister, Mr Buffett - Virement of Funds Advice

3)             Chief Minister, Mr Buffett - NI Development Report – Final Report of ACIL Tasman – Dr James Fogarty

4)             Minister for Tourism, Industry & Development, Mr. Nobbs - Gaming Directors Report

5)             Minister for Community Services, Mr. Sheridan - Minister for Community Services, Mr Sheridan – Strata Title White Paper

6)             Chief Minister, Mr Buffett – Explanatory Memorandum to the Sentencing (Amendment) Bill 2012

 The following statements were made –

1)         Chief Minister, Mr Buffett extended a warm welcome to His Honour the Administrator Mr Neil Pope who has taken and to Mrs Jennifer Pope;

2)         Chief Minister, Mr Buffett reported that an independent inquiry had commenced into the allegation of misconduct by a Minister and a Member of the Public Service

3)         Minister for Community Services, Mr Sheridan advised of the engagement of Mr Anthony Gallagher as the community Counsellor

Message 26 from the Office of the Administrator was read advising that the Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill 2012 and the Employment (Amendment No. 2) Act 2011 had been assented to by His Honour the Administrator.

Outcomes for matters on the Notice Paper which were debated are as follows:

1)         A motion of appreciation to the outgoing Administrator Mr Owen Walsh was unanimously agreed to (see full text of motion above)

2)         The House agreed the appointment of Mr Graeme Faulkner as Chief Executive Officer of the Public Service for a term not exceeding 5 years

3)         Ms Carolyn Mignone O’Doherty was appointed to the Employment Conciliation Board for the period 12 April 2012 to 11 April 2015

4)         Mr Brian Thomas McGrath was appointed as a trustee under the Museum Trust Act 1987 for the period 20  April 2012 to 19 April 2014The House recommended that Mrs Melissa Ward be re-appointed as a member of the Immigration Committee for the period commencing 14 April 2012

5)         The House agreed, following the resignation of Mr Duncan Harvey Evans as a member of the Norfolk Island Government Tourist Advisory Board , that Mr Alistair John Unicomb be appointed to the Advisory Board for the remainder of the term of the member replaced

6)         The House recommended the revocation of Mr Gary Dowling as the Deputy Official Trustee under the Provident Account Act 1958 and that he be appointed as the Official Trustee and further that Mrs Janis Keeping be appointed as the Deputy Official Trustee of the Provident Account

7)         The Sentencing (Amendment) Bill 2012 was introduced and adjourned on the question – That the Bill be agreed to in principle

8)         The Immigration (Amendment) Bill 2011 was debated and again adjourned on the question – That the Bill be agreed to in principle

May sitting of the Legislative Assembly

The next scheduled sitting of the Legislative Assembly is Wednesday 9 May 2012 at 10 am. The Speaker advised of her absence from the sitting

To read the Notice Paper, Programme, Minutes of Proceedings and legislation tabled in the House go to www.info.gov.nf. Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 13 April 2012 and posted on the blog site http://yourparliamentyourvoice.blogspot.com

Your Parliament - Your Voice 6 April 2012

“Your Parliament – Your Voice”

From the Office of the Speaker

Commonwealth Day – “Connecting Cultures” – Report from the Norfolk team from London

 

Thank you to Tennille Christian, Tim Gatehouse and Leah Christian for the great report you have provided on your participation in the Commonwealth Day activities in London as Norfolk’s representatives.  We hear Tennille had the opportunity to meet Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh which must have been pretty special for her.  Here is their report:

“On Monday 12^th March 39 young adults aged between 17 and 30 from 19 commonwealth nations arrived at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) to learn more about the Commonwealth and different roles and responsibilities within the Parliamentary system.

There were many inspirational speakers throughout the day. Mr Liam Laurence Smythe, Clerk of Journals at House of Commons came in to discuss his role not only on a day to day basis in keeping records of the house but also in relation to the “connecting cultures” theme by helping to choose topics for Select Committees that will open discussions across a broad range of people. We also had talks from Kate Hoey, MP for Vauxhall and Andrew Rosindell, MP for Romford who came to discuss what being an MP involves and how to balance out the demands of parliament as well as being an accessible point of contact for constituents and a good team representative for their party and the best way to connect all of these aspects.

We got to tour through the Houses of Parliament and learn about the two different houses and representatives in each house as well as some of the interesting rules, regulations and methods that occur within this beautiful building. We returned back to the CPA to hear a talk from Ms Sukey Cameron who is the UK Representative for the Falkland Islands it was particularly interesting hearing her speak and discuss not only her roles and responsibilities but to hear about the Falkland Islands opinion on the current disagreement between Argentina and the UK that has been top news over the past few months in the UK. We were also lucky enough to speak with Ms Cameron during the lunch break who advised she was a big fan of Norfolk and has been over a couple of times to visit.

After Lunch we went to Westminster Abbey for the Commonwealth Day Observance non denominational service. Her Majesty the Queen was present and was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Countess of Wessex. The service began with the performance of the song “Stronger as One” by Robert Harthorne which was specifically commissioned for Commonwealth Day 2012. The service was interlaced with beautiful songs including moving performance of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah and talks from people right across the globe and ended with prayers from the religious leaders of multiple faiths.

I [Tennille] had the pleasure of receiving an Invitation to the Commonwealth Secretary-Generals Reception in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen at Marlborough House. The reception brought together many interesting people of the Commonwealth including the High Commissioners of Barbados, St Lucia, Jamaica and Nigeria as well as the CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation Mike Hooper who asked me to pass on a Hello to Tommy Lloyd and Dennis Sterling as well as anyone else he knows. The highlight of the reception was when I was lucky enough to meet and talk with both Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Philip.

Overall the Commonwealth Day by the CPA was both an educational and enjoyable day that any young islander should apply for next year as it is a truly amazing experience.”

Australian Region Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Steering Committee is to visit Norfolk Island 13 to 16 April 2012 for its annual planning meeting.  The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians group is commonly referred to as the CWP.  The CWP was founded by women delegates at the 1989 plenary conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (the CPA) so that women at future CPA conferences could discuss ways to increase female representation in Parliament and work towards the mainstreaming of gender considerations in all CPA activities and programmes. In 2004, the group was formally recognized in the CPA Constitution and its elected Chairperson added to the CPA Executive Committee.

The CWP Steering Committee Australian Region comprises a delegate from the Commonwealth of Australia CPA Branch, and from each State and Territory CPA Branches in the Australian Region.  Mrs Rhonda Griffiths MLA is the delegate for Norfolk Island on the Steering Committee.  A busy schedule of meetings and activities have been arranged for the Committee and we thank His Honour the Administrator and Mrs Pope for hosting a reception for the CWP during their visit; this activity will also afford a representative group from the Norfolk Women’s’ Forum the opportunity to meet the visiting delegation at this reception.  A more comprehensive report on the visit will be given in next week’s issue of Your Parliament Your Voice.

To read the Notice Paper, Programme, Minutes of Proceedings and legislation tabled in the House go to www.info.gov.nf. Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 6 April 2012 and posted on the blog site http://yourparliamentyourvoice.blogspot.com