Norfolk Women's Forum a success. Commonwealth Parliamentary Association acknowledges Norfolk Island

The 4th Norfolk Women’s Forum (NWF) which was held last Sunday evening at Governor’s Lodge was well attended by women from our community; and those gentlemen who joined the gathering were also warmly welcomed. Our congratulations to the Forum organisers for a very professionally conducted event. The 20 plus women who spoke covered a broad range of issues of community concern and it is understood that the Forum will be bringing those concerns to the attention of government in order for solutions to be achieved or worked on.

I found it both interesting and synchronistic to have a communication crossed my desk this week from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s Headquarters (CPA) in London advising of the observance of Commonwealth Day on 14 March 2011; and to note that the theme for 2011 is “Women as Agents of Change”!

As part of the observance of Commonwealth Day in London, the CPA offers the opportunity for CPA Branches to nominate up to two young people, ideally one male, one female, to attend the Commonwealth Day Celebrations held there. The age group for nominees is 18 to 25 who must have shown an interest in commonwealth and parliamentary affairs, displayed potential leadership qualities and already have planned to be in London on Commonwealth Day. Over the years quite a few of our Norfolk youth have attended the celebrations in London – Martin and Melissa Snell, Joel and Samantha Quintal and Raylene Nobbs are just some who come to mind. Others have attended CPA hosted Youth Parliaments in London and Kelly Muir was one of those attendees.

Norfolk Island is held in very high esteem by this international organisation and just this week I see in Issue three of The Parliamentarian photo of Secretary General of the CPA, Dr William Shija, shaking hands with Deputy Speaker Lisle Snell at the Nairobi Conference held in September this year. The Parliamentarian is the Journal of the Parliaments of the Commonwealth and the photo is published in “The Secretary-General’s Commonwealth Gallery”

If you are aware of young Norfolk people who may meet the above requirements please contact the Clerk, Mrs Gaye Evans JP, on 22003 or email clerk@assembly.gov.nf before Friday 7 January 2011.

Well this is the last issue for 2010 of Your Parliament Your Voice. May the festive season be special for you and your families; and may we work in harmony towards taking our beautiful Island into a prosperous place to live in, in 2011 and beyond.

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 16 December 2010

Memorandum of Understanding and the Fourth Norfolk Women's Forum

I have received requests for copies of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) entered into between the Commonwealth of Australia and the Norfolk Island Government re Financial Assistance for Essential Services for Norfolk Island. Readers will recall the Chief Minister reporting to the House on 1 December 2010 that the Commonwealth had agreed to provide certain funding for this purpose until the end of the current financial year, subject to the parties formulating “a detailed agreement which would set out the terms and conditions under which the funding would be provided.” The next step is the formulation of the funding agreement.

The MOU, which was tabled in the Assembly by the Chief Minister on 1 December, can be accessed on the front page of the Norfolk Telecom website www.ni.net.nf under the heading New Links. If you are unable to access a computer please phone 22003 and request a copy.

The 4^th Norfolk Women’s Forum (NWF) will be held this Sunday evening, the 12^th of December, at Governor’s Lodge commencing at 7 pm and an invitation has been extended to all Members of the Legislative Assembly to attend. The concept of the NWF came from two initiatives - the first was the International Women’s Day event in 2007; followed by Mrs Vicky Jack, when Government Minister responsible for social services in an earlier Assembly, bringing together women from all walks of life on Norfolk, seeking their views, concerns and suggested solutions to issues that they felt were important to our community. The Forum’s aim is to give all women a voice and I quote “to see that all issues put forward are documented and that solutions are then achieved or worked toward.”

It is understood that Senator Kate Lundy and Ms Gai Brodtmann MP, ALP member for the ACT seat of Canberra are visiting the Island over the weekend and will attend the Forum as will Mr Robert Patch who returns to the Island for his third visit arriving Sunday.

The role of women in politics is always a key item on the agenda for the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Group (the CWPG) and I as Speaker of our Legislative Assembly Member am the Norfolk Island delegate on the Australian Branch of the CWPG. The annual meeting of the CWPG international body is timed to coincide with the annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and this year those meetings were held in Nairobi Kenya. I was interested today to receive a copy of a paper presented at the Nairobi CWPG meeting by the Hon Helen Coonan MP from the Australian Federal Parliament titled “Reform of Political Parties – Working Towards Democracy”. With this week’s focus on the Norfolk Women’s Forum I thought I would share with you some interesting statistics on female representation in Australian Government mentioned in Ms Coonan’s paper and I quote -

“As women in Federal Parliament it is pleasing to see that the proportion of women in the Parliament of Australia has risen over the past ten or so years. In 1999, 22 per cent of members of the House of Representatives were women and 32 per cent of Senators were female. In the beginning of 2010, the representation of women had risen to 28 per cent in the House of Representatives and 35 per cent in the Senate.”

The representation of women in the Thirteenth Legislative Assembly of Norfolk Island is of course 33 per cent!

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 10 December 2010

December Sitting of the House

The Legislative Assembly met on 1 December 2010 at 10 am and concluded shortly after 5 pm.

The first substantive matter on the Programme was a Matter of Public Importance raised by the Chief Minister, the Hon David Buffett AM who reported on the outcome of a meeting in Canberra to discuss financial assistance by the Commonwealth of Australia. During discussion on the matter of public importance the Chief Minister tabled the Memorandum of Understanding in respect of ‘Financial Assistance for Essential Services on Norfolk Island’ signed and dated 25 November 2010 for and on behalf of the Commonwealth of Australia by the Hon Simon Crean, Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government and signed for and on behalf of the Government of Norfolk Island by the Hon David Buffett AM MLA, Chief Minister. A motion being moved – That the House take note of the paper – debate on that motion was adjourned for further consideration later in the sitting. Debate resumed on the motion after the lunch break and was amended to include the words “and printed” in order to facilitate the paper being made available more widely than standing order 197 currently provides.

The House also addressed the following matters:

• Approval was given under paragraph 17A(1)(e) of the Immigration Act 1980 that Michael Jon Porter Jr, Ashley June Porter; and Eli Michael Porter be authorised to make an application for a general entry permit under the Act;
• Nadia Cuthbertson, Morgan Evans and David Porter were re-appointed to the Norfolk Island Government Tourist Bureau for the period 1 January 2011 to 20 April 2011;
• Raewyn Florence Evans was appointed as a community member of the Social Services Board for a period of 3 years commencing on the day on which the instrument of appointment is signed;
• The House considered a proposal under section 15A of the Tourist Accommodation Act 1982 to transfer, subject to specified conditions, the registration of the licence of one unit from “Castaway Hotel and Apartments” to portion 21k Selwyn Pine Road known as “Ahstyk”. Debate has been adjourned;
• The House also considered a proposal under section 15A of the Tourist Accommodation Act 1982 to transfer, subject to specified conditions, the registration of the licence of one unit from “Castaway Hotel and Apartments” to portion 93u New Farm Road, being the tourist accommodation house to be known as “Rocky Point Lodge”; Debate has been adjourned.
• The motion moved by Mr King in relation to deregulation of telecommunications was debated and adjourned;
• The Road Traffic (Amendment No. 3) Bill 2010 was introduced, debated and adjourned on the question – That the Bill be agreed to in principle;
• The House gave leave to the withdrawal of order of the day No. 1 on the programme relating to a statement made at the November sitting concerning the Administration Telecommunications Infrastructure.

This week has seen the visit of Mr Robert Patch, Director, Norfolk Island Section, Territories East Branch, Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government. Mr Patch, who recently joined the Territories Branch, was visiting for the second time at the request of Federal Minister Crean to meet the people and to familiarise himself with Norfolk Island. A comprehensive programme of activities was prepared for his visit in order to give him the greatest opportunity to “meet and talk with the people”, including a public meeting at Rawson Hall to allow for community questions on issues pertaining to the reform process and the ongoing partnership with the Commonwealth Government to provide a sustainable future for Norfolk Island.. The House welcomed Mr Patch to the public gallery of the Assembly Chamber at the sitting on Wednesday.

The next sitting of the Legislative Assembly is scheduled for 19 January 2011.

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 3 December 2010

The week of the 22nd of November

Flags flew at half mast in the community yesterday as a mark of respect to those who lost their lives in the New Zealand mining disaster this week and the Acting Chief Minister Andre Nobbs has written to the Prime Minister of New Zealand expressing our sincere sympathy to our New Zealand neighbours with whom we share deep and longstanding community ties.

Thanksgiving Day has been celebrated and thanks given for our Bounty. Prayers of support and good wishes were said in churches across our community for the best outcome to flow from the discussions scheduled to take place in Canberra on the 26th November between our Chief Minister the Hon David Buffett AM, the Minister for Finance the Hon Craig Anderson MLA and the Federal Minister Simon Crean MP.

Yesterday afternoon at 4 pm a very wide cross-section of island people, representing many age groups and walks of life, gathered at All Saints Church to pray for the best outcome for the Island from these discussions. The service was timed to coincide with the meeting in Canberra and the Legislative Assembly was represented by Government Ministers, Assembly members and parliamentary staff.

As I write this week’s Your Parliament Your Voice (2 pm Friday) we are yet to receive advice on the outcome of the discussions; however the Chief Minister will brief members of the Assembly at 4.30 pm this Sunday following his arrival back on Island that afternoon with briefing of the community as soon as practicable thereafter.

The next sitting of the Legislative Assembly will be held on Wednesday 1 December 2010 at 10 am and matters listed for discussion can be read elsewhere in this publication.

At the sitting of the House on 3 November 2010 the Legislative Assembly agreed to the appointment by the Speaker of Mrs Rosemarie Gaye Evans JP as the Clerk to the Legislative Assembly and it gives me pleasure to advise that I have formalised the appointment of Mrs Evans to this senior position in the parliamentary service with effect Thursday 25 November 2010.

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 26 November 2010 and posted on the blog site http://yourparliamentyourvoice.blogspot.com/

Minister Creane, Bowls and Thanksgiving Day

It is Thanksgiving Day on Wednesday 24 November 2010 and in the long standing Island tradition the Norfolk Island community will come together in Prayer at the various churches to give thanks for the many blessings in their lives. It is on Thanksgiving Day that our Chief Minister the Hon David Buffett AM MLA, leaves the Island for discussions on the future of Norfolk Island with the Federal Minister with responsibility for Norfolk Island, the Hon Simon Crean MP. The Chief Minister, who will be accompanied by the Minister for Finance & the Attorney-General the Hon Craig Anderson and Chief of Staff Ms Elizabeth Burns,

The Chief Minister spoke on radio to the Norfolk Island community on Friday 19 November 2010 sharing with the community the reason for these initial discussions; he further advised the community of the visit of Commonwealth officers earlier this week to look at the Island’s finances.

The Norfolk Island community of course is not only planning to celebrate Thanksgiving Day next week it is also looking forward to the holding of a most prestigious event – another first for Norfolk Island – the hosting of the World Singles Champion of Champions Bowls Tournament. We understand some 40 participants from some 24 countries will be arriving from around the world this weekend, along with their supporters and officials. The grand opening will take place at 4 pm on Monday 22 November at the Norfolk Island Bowling Club and both the Chief Minister and the Minister with responsibility for sport, the Hon Tim Sheridan MLA will speak on the opening.

You will recall my mentioning in an earlier issue of Your Parliament Your Voice that 20 October 2010 marked the 30th anniversary of the assigning of armorial bearings for Norfolk Island by Her Majesty the Queen. Elsewhere in this publication you will find a report on this anniversary written by Mr Bruce Baskerville and published in the newsletter of The Australian Heraldry Society. Thank you Bruce.

If you have driven down New Cascade Road recently you will have no doubt noticed that the paddock adjacent to the Police Station and the entrance to the Works Depot, the Library and the Radio Station is now looking very spic and span. You will also have noticed that there have been several rows of trees planted inside two of the boundaries. This is an initiative of the Works Depot and the Roads staff with the encouragement of the Minister for Community Services, the Hon Tim Sheridan MLA who is keen to see planting of fruit trees in public places. Well done to you all for this great community initiative.

The next sitting of the Legislative Assembly will be held on Wednesday 1 December 2010 at 10 am. The Notice Paper for this sitting closes on Thursday 25 November 2010 at 4 pm.

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 19 November 2010 and posted on the blog site http://yourparliamentyourvoice.blogspot.com/

Financial Arrangement With Commonwelath Government

From the Office of the Speaker

The Legislative Assembly met on 3 November 2010 with all Members present. The first substantial matter on the Programme was a Matter of Public Importance raised by the Chief Minister, the Hon David Buffett AM who announced the taking pace of discussions with the Commonwealth Government on financial and associated arrangements for Norfolk Island. A statement by the Chief Minister on this matter can be found elsewhere in the Norfolk Islander and in Norfolk Online.

The following matters on the Notice Paper were addressed –

1. The appointment under section 48 of the Legislative Assembly Act 1979 (the Act)of Rosemarie Gaye Evans as Clerk to the Legislative Assembly on the terms and conditions contained in the Schedule tabled in the House. The motion, proposed by Chief Minister Buffett, was agreed.

2. Mrs Patricia Anderson was re-appointed as a community member of the Social Services Board for a period of 3 years on the motion of the Minister for Community Services, Mr Tim Sheridan.
3. Mr Tim Rogers was appointed as a member of the Immigration Committee for the period 4 November 2010 to 3 November 2012 on the motion of the Minister for Finance & the Attorney-General, Mr Anderson.
4. The Chief Minister, Mr David Buffett, presented the Provident Account (Amendment) Bill 2010. Debate on the Bill has been adjourned until a later sitting.

The next sitting of the Assembly will take place on 1 December 2010 at 10 am.

Staff engaged in the Legislative Assembly complex
at Old Military Barracks

In my debate supporting the appointment of Mrs Evans as Clerk I gave an undertaking as Speaker to review our parliamentary service to ensure that the Assembly and its committees are appropriately resourced into the future. At present the Legislative Assembly Act only allows for the appointment of a Clerk and a person appointed to act as the Clerk, a role that Mrs Evans fulfilled for 16 years before being appointed Clerk this week.

The following staff are currently employed at Old Military Barracks:

Ms Elizabeth Burns (left),
Chief of Staff
(formerly titled Secretary to Government)

Ms Alma Davidson (right),
Senior Policy Adviser
(formerly titled Research Assistant Government)

Ms Chantelle Meltz (left),
Secretary to the Legislative Assembly

Albeit somewhat late in doing so I would like to mention the appointment some six weeks ago of Ms Chantelle Meltz as our new Secretary to the Legislative Assembly. Chantelle succeeds Mrs Patricia Anderson who retired from the position in December 2009 after some 10 years of loyal service to the Assembly and I trust that she is enjoying her retirement. At the same time on behalf of Assembly staff and colleagues, I welcome Chantelle onto the Assembly team of staff.

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 5 November 2010 and posted on the blog site http://yourparliamentyourvoice.blogspot.com/

The 20th and the 27th of October 2010 are two significant dates to mark on our calendars as dates that are benchmarks in Norfolk Island’s evolution.

The 20th of October 2010 marks the 30th Anniversary of the granting and assigning of the Armorial Ensigns for Norfolk Island by Her Majesty the Queen at Court on board H.M. Yacht Britannia on 20 October 1980.


The Royal Warrant describes the Armorial Ensigns as follows, quote:

“Arms: Per chevron Azure and Argent in chief two Mullets of the Cast and in base issuant from a Rocky Mount charged with a Book expanded proper edged Or leathered Gules a Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria excelsa) proper And for the Crest Out of a Naval Crown Azure a demi Lion Or gorged with a Laurel Wreath proper and holding a Covered Cup Or, and for Supporters On the dexter side a Lion and on the sinister side a Kangaroo proper each resting the exterior foreleg on an Anchor erect Azure”. End quote

On 22 January 1981 the Chief Minister of Norfolk Island issued a memorandum advising that The Queen had signed the Royal Warrant granting Arms to Norfolk Island. By the same memorandum, it was advised that the Norfolk Island Coat of Arms should be used in Norfolk Island circumstances in lieu of the Australian Coat of Arms. The Chief Minister instructed the Norfolk Island Coat of Arms should appear, inter alia, on –

a) All stationary of the Norfolk Island Administration;
b) All forms, especially formal certificates and licences used and issued by the Administration (unless of a minor nature in which no Coat of Arms is used);
c) On the title page of printed enactments;
d) In addition, uniformed staff should incorporate the Norfolk Island Coat of Arms on shoulder flashes, pockets or otherwise as appropriate (e.g. Police, Norfolk Island Customs, Quarantine, Fire officers, etc). Government instrumentalities not part of the Administration are allowed to use the Coat of Arms.

Quoting from a letter dated 11 February 1987 from the Garter, Principal King of Arms, London, “The Armorial Bearings have become those of Norfolk Island by the highest authority, that of Her Majesty The Queen and they are entered in the Records of the College of Arms accordingly, the concern of the College and the Kings of Arms being that the Laws of Arms in such respect should be observed……The entitlement to bear and use Armorial Bearings is an honour in the nature of a Dignity…” end quote.

A small exhibition of pertinent memorabilia, including a copy of the Warrant, is being mounted by our Museum Curator Mrs Lisa Richards in the ante-chamber to the Legislative Assembly Chamber and will be available for viewing by arrangement with the Clerk to the Legislative Assembly, Mrs Gaye Evans JP, from Wednesday 20th October.

The Supreme Court Act (Norfolk Island) was assented to in 1960 – 50 years ago and a number of activities have been arranged by His Honour the Administrator in consultation with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the Chief Minister of the Norfolk Island Government between the 26th and 28th of October 2010 to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Supreme Court in Norfolk Island. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island, the Hon. Peter Jacobson, the Hon. Justice Gary Downes AM and the Hon Justice Bruce Lander will join us to commemorate the Anniversary. In addition to meeting with Members of the Assembly at morning tea on the 26th of October, the Justices will be guests of the Legislative Assembly when they participate in debate on the floor of the House at a Ceremonial Sitting of the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday 27th October at 11 am. The Sitting will be broadcast live from Kingston. A Ceremonial sitting of the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island will follow.

Part VII of the Norfolk Island 1979 (Commonwealth) deals with the Judicial System on Norfolk Island including the Constitution of the Supreme Court, Appointment of Judges and their remuneration and allowances, and of course the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. If you would like to find out more the link to the Norfolk Island Act 1979 is http://admindata/legislation/NorfolkIslandAct.

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 15 October 2010 and posted on the blog site http://yourparliamentyourvoice.blogspot.com/

Assembly documents can be accessed on www.info.gov.nf

56th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference - Kenya

Norfolk Island has a voice at the 56th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference held in Nairobi Kenya – continued from Your Parliament Your Voice published on 2 October 2010
The Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Mr Lisle Snell, has provided the following brief summary on his participation at the plenary conference and at the Small Branches Conference.

“Norfolk Island is included as a part of the Australian Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (the CPA) which comprises all Australian States and Territories with the exception of Cocos Island and Christmas Island. Madam Speaker has reported in an earlier issue of Your Parliament Your Voice on Norfolk Island’s role in the CPA and that it s one of the few forums in which Norfolk participates internationally in our own right so I will only say that we have sent delegates annually to this major parliamentary conference since 1979. The opportunity to be part of this global network is hugely important, particularly to small governments with democratic responsibility such as we have. If Norfolk was not there we would be forgotten very quickly and any help we may require would be difficult to obtain.

“Within the CPA, Norfolk Island is well known and respected as a successful and stable democratic government.

Commencing the day after my arrival, I attended workshops and seminars, starting with the Small Branches Conference where matters of mutual interest were debated. Major topics covered in the Small Branches Conference were Energy and Environment; Achieving Sustainable Development; The Challenges of Sovereignty in Small States; The Effect of ‘Political’ Corruption in Small States; and Parliament and Accountability – Strengthening Over-Sight in Small States. To expand on some of the issues raised in debate relevant to Norfolk.

• Waste Management – Norfolk was advised to pursue the pit burner disposal system in lieu of expensive high heat incinerators. Jersey spent 100 million on a high heat incinerator and are not happy with the result.
• Nepotism – A concern but unavoidable in small countries and need not be a major concern provided proper policy is followed.
• Small Governments suffer the same accusations of “doing well- they must be corrupt” or “Going bad – They must be incompetent.”
• Make all government contracts and results of building process public
• Protect land for food production
• Small countries must be alert to changes around them ie territorial waters
• Changes to historic rights must be open and debated – changes must not impede the rights of people and trade
• Cultural sovereignty versus economic and social rule
• All peoples have rights of self determination
• Economic Sovereignty – protection of natural resources
• National pride and cultural rights
• Must protect energy sources and security – No country can prosper without energy
• Retain close partnership with a major country

I appreciated the opportunity to be part of this CPA Conference and I hope the experience will benefit both my own and Norfolk’s parliamentary future”..

Regrettably space does not permit inclusion of Part 2 of the CPA News Release this week.

Territories Law Reform Bill 2010 (Commonwealth)
The Hansard of introductory remarks made by Federal Minister Simon Crean MP when introducing the Territories Law Reform Bill 2010 (Commonwealth) into the House of Representatives on 29 September 2010 an be accessed on http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/reps/dailys/dr290910.pdf.

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 8 October 2010

Assembly documents can be accessed on www.info.gov.nf

Norfolk Island flies the flag Internationally!

Norfolk Island is in the news and its flag flying high around the globe …..

“Norfolk Island becomes first nation to hoist flag at Village” was the heading to a media release received from New Delhi last Tuesday where our 33-member Commonwealth Games delegation were reported to have “clapped and swayed to the tunes of bhangra and fusion music played by students of a city school in their honour.”. The press release went on to say “The delegation, comprising 22 athletes, had moved into the Village on Sunday. The members were today out strolling in the hot sun to get a feel of the entire 63.5 hectare area of the campus….”. Well done Norfolk.

Norfolk Island has a voice at the 56^th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference held in Nairobi Kenya

The Norfolk flag was also proudly displayed by the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Mr Lisle Snell MLA, who represented Norfolk Island at the 56^th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference held two weeks ago in Nairobi Kenya. Our photo shows the Deputy Speaker during one of the plenary sessions. On the opposite page is part 1 of a News Release issued by CPA Headquarters in London at the conclusion of the CPA Conference. We will conclude the press release in next week’s Your Parliament Your Voice along with a Report by Deputy Speaker Snell on his participation at the plenary conference and at the Small Nations Conference.

National Police Remembrance Day

On Wednesday 29 September 2010 the Chief Minister, the Hon David Buffett AM MLA, and I, as the Speaker, attended the National Police Remembrance Day Service which was held at 10 am in All Saints Church at Kingston. A very moving service was conducted under the guidance of the Reverend Canon Stuart Broughton. Warm words of welcome and remembrance were spoken, hymns of inspiration were sung and prayers were read, including The Police Prayer read by the Chief Minister; and the poem I Am (Remembrance) read by Mr George Smith AM, former Chief Minister & Minister for Police in the Norfolk Island Government.

Territories Law Reform Bill 2010 (Commonwealth)

Norfolk Island is in the news in Canberra – this time in the Commonwealth of Australia Parliament – where on 29 September 2010 the Federal Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon Simon Crean MP, tabled the Territories Law Reform Bill 2010 in the Federal Parliament. Readers will recall that this Bill, which was on referral to the Australian Senate, lapsed with the double dissolution of the Federal Parliament earlier this year. Debate on the Bill stands adjourned. For Hansard of debate on the Bill when introduced go to http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/reps/dailys/dr290910.pdf.

The Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Water is the leader of the Nationals in the Senate; Senator Barnaby Joyce. He replaces Hon Bruce Bilson who was the Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Tourism in the previous opposition government. Hon Bruce Bilson is now Shadow Minister for Small Business, Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs.

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 1 October 2010 and posted on the blog site http://yourparliamentyourvoice.blogspot.com/

Assembly documents can now be accessed on www.info.gov.nf

September sitting of the Legislative Assembly

“Your Parliament – Your Voice”
From the Office of the Speaker

The following is a summary of some of the matters dealt with at the sitting of the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday 22 September 2010:

• Answers were provided to the majority of the 21 Questions on Notice.
• A number of papers were tabled including an exposure draft of the Norfolk Island Government Tourist Bureau (Amendment) Bill 2010 and explanatory memorandum. The explanatory memorandum reads –

The intent of this Bill is to change the organisation structure of the Norfolk Island Government Tourist Bureau as established under the Norfolk Island Government Tourist Bureau Act 1980. The revised structure will resemble that established for the Norfolk Island Hospital Enterprise under the Norfolk Island Hospital Act 1985. To that end the Norfolk Island Government Tourist Bureau will retain its name and corporate identity but the powers (including employment) of the Bureau and day to day management of Bureau activities will be exercised by a general manager. There will be an Advisory Board, of 5 persons nominated by the executive member in accordance with a resolution of the Legislative Assembly (two of whom may be nominated by a recognised association). These members will hold office for 3 years and may be re-appointed. The executive member will appoint the chairperson. The general manager will be appointed by the executive member on the recommendation of the Advisory Board. The NIGTB Advisory Board will act in relation to the Bureau in the same way as does the Hospital Advisory Board to the Hospital Enterprise. The Advisory Board will be a source of advice on strategy and direction regarding the Bureau and development of the tourism industry.

Copies of the exposure draft of this Bill and Explanatory Memorandum are available from Mrs. Jan Keeping in the Legal Services Unit at the Norfolk Island Administration or on www.info.gov.nf under Legislative Assembly Exposure Drafts of Bills.

• Several statements were made by Ministers of the Norfolk Island Government and they can be found elsewhere in Norfolk Online.
• The transfer of one tourist accommodation unit from the tourist accommodation house known as “Cumberland Resort and Spa” to portion Lot 49 Mountbatten Park was approved subject to prescribed conditions
• Approval was given for exemption of payment of customs duty by Banyan Park Play Centre for playground equipment and by Norfolk Island Amateur Sports and Commonwealth Games Association for uniforms for the Commonwealth Games Team
• The House approved the re-appointment to the Norfolk Island Museum Trust of Owen Edward John Walsh for the period 23 September 2010 to 22 September 2012
• The motion moved by Mr. King that the House rescind its order made on 28 July 2010 was agreed
• The Chief Minister at the 28 July 2010 sitting of the House tabled a draft determination of Organisational Structure of the Public Service under the Public Sector Management Act 2000. The House agreed the making of the new Organisational Structure.
• At the 28 July 2010 sitting of the House a letter dated 15 July 2010 from Minister Anderson to Hon Brendon O’Connor MP re Norfolk Island Government Budget 2010-2011 was tabled by Minister Anderson and a motion – That the House take note of the paper and the paper be endorsed – was moved and adjourned by Mr. King. The motion was subsequently passed at the sitting this week.

Our Commonwealth Games contingent leaves on the weekend for New Delhi India where they will represent Norfolk at the Commonwealth Games there. Our Minister for Community Services, the Hon. Tim Sheridan MLA, will represent Norfolk in lawn bowls.

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 24 September 2010 and posted on the blog site http://yourparliamentyourvoice.blogspot.com/

Assemby documents can be accessed on www.info.gov.nf

Radio Link Up with Lord Howe Island

Your Parliament – Your Voice”
From the Office of the Speaker

Sitting programme for the Legislative Assembly for the remainder of the year
The Assembly next meets on Wednesday 22 September 2010 at 10 am and elsewhere in the paper you will find substantive matters scheduled for consideration at the sitting. Further sittings of the Assembly are then scheduled for 3 November and 15 December 2010, with a Ceremonial Sitting proposed to be held on Wednesday 27 October to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island. Comprehensive detail about the Anniversary Celebrations will be published when to hand.

Radio link up with Lord Howe Island
Last week I foreshadowed a possible radio link up with the CEO of the Lord Howe Island Board and that happened on Thursday morning at 10 am when Chief Minister David Buffett, Minister for Tourism, Industry & Development Andre Nobbs and I spoke with Stephen Wills for some 40 minutes about how the Lord Howe Island community, with the support of the Lord Howe Island Board, went about developing and launching their community strategy to take them from 2010-2015. The Lord Howe Island Board encouraged the engagement of an independent facilitator to assist the community in this process, which it would seem worked very well in getting the community on board to express their views. This process is very much like that used by Norfolk Island Tourism in the development of the new Tourism Brand that was launched on Norfolk last November. The facilitator engaged by the Lord Howe Island community was Peter Kenyon – www.bankofideas.com.au – who works with 10 Key Community Development Beliefs which I will share here –

Belief 1.
Meaningful and lasting community change always originates from within, and local residents in that community are the best experts on how to activate that change.

Belief 2.
Community residents act responsibly when they care, and support what they create.

Belief 3.
Building and nourishing relationships is at the core of building healthy and inclusive communities.

Belief 4.
Communities have never been built by dwelling on their deficiencies, needs and problems. Communities respond creatively when the focus is on resources, capacities, strengths and aspirations.

Belief 5.
The strength of a community is directly proportional to the level that the diversity of its residents desire, and are able to contribute their abilities and assets to the well being of their community. Every single person has capacities, abilities, gifts and ideas, and living a good life depends on whether those capacities can be used, abilities expressed, gifts given and ideas shared.

Belief 6.
In every community something works. Instead of asking ‘What’s wrong, and how to fix it’, ask- ‘What’s worked, and how do we get more of it?’ It generates energy and creativity.

Belief 7.
Creating positive change begins simply with conversation. It is the way that human beings have always thought together, and initiated action.

Belief 8.
Having fun needs to be a high priority in all community building efforts.

Belief 9.
The central factor in sustainable change is local leadership and its continuous development and renewal.

Belief 10.
The starting point for change is always mindset and positive attitudes.

Elsewhere in the Islander the Chief Minister comments further on the radio link up and the draft document setting out the Direction for the 13th Legislative Assembly which is to be tabled in the Assembly next Wednesday.

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 17 September 2010 and posted on the blog site http://yourparliamentyourvoice.blogspot.com/

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

“Your Parliament – Your Voice”
From the Office of the Speaker


Fostering ongoing international ties

The Deputy President of the Norfolk Island Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Mr Lisle Snell MLA, is now in Nairobi, Kenya, where he is attending the 56th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference which this year will focus on “Parliament and Development in the 21st Century: Thus Far and Beyond”. This Conference is preceded by the two day 30th Small Branches Conference which is of particular relevance to Norfolk this year. The topics for discussion at this Conference will include ‘Energy and Environment: Achieving Sustainable Development’; ‘The Challenges of Sovereignty in Small States’; and ‘Parliament and Accountability – Strengthening Oversight in Small Parliaments’.



Norfolk Island has been a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, or the CPA as it is more commonly called, since 1980 and has been sending a delegate to this international Conference annually since the late 80’s with many beneficial outcomes for Norfolk Island as a consequence. The cost of delegate’s airfares, accommodation and meals are met from Conference funding.



What is the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association?

The CPA is an Association of Commonwealth Parliamentarians who, irrespective of gender, race, religion or culture, are united by community of interest, respect for the rule of law and individual rights and freedoms, and by pursuit of the positive ideals of parliamentary democracy.

The Association's mission is to promote the advancement of parliamentary democracy by enhancing knowledge and understanding of democratic governance. It seeks to build an informed parliamentary community able to deepen the Commonwealth's democratic commitment and to further co-operation among its Parliaments and Legislatures. This mission is achieved through a Strategic Plan which ensures CPA activities continue to meet the changing needs of today's Parliamentarians.

Active CPA Branches now exist in 175 national, state, provincial and territorial Parliaments, with a total membership of approximately 17,000 Parliamentarians.



Lord Howe Island endorses a Community Strategy for 2010 to 2015

In early August Lord Howe Island launched what they have termed “The Lord Howe Island Community Strategy 2010 – 2015 ‘Pride in our Island, United and Confident in our Future””. The Strategy “is an initiative of the Lord Howe Island community in response to the many uncertainties and difficulties that affect small and isolated communities. The island community has not previously developed an overall plan and the desire to create a cohesive and vibrant community led to a commitment to prepare a plan for our future. The preparation of the LHI Community Strategy was possible due to the commitment and financial support of the Lord Howe Island Board. The Board recognises the vital importance of community engagement and the benefit of local experience and resident participation in decision making and project implementation….” A copy of the Lord Howe document is available at CIRCA.



Lord Howe’s initiative is applauded by the Norfolk Island Government, and Minister Andre Nobbs and I spoke this week with the Chairman of the Lord Howe Island Board about the processes they followed to such a successful conclusion. We were all agreed it would be great to set up a radio link with their Board in the near future to discuss their Strategy while at the same time strengthening the already long standing, close ties between our two communities. The possible development of a similar Strategy by the Norfolk Island community in tandem with the forward Strategy of the Norfolk Island Government currently nearing completion is certainly “on our agenda”!



Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 10 September 2010 and posted on the blog site http://yourparliamentyourvoice.blogspot.com/

The work of the Impact of Bills and Subordinate Legislation Committee continues……..

The Committee comprising Mr Michael King MLA (Chairman), Mrs Melissa Ward and Mr Lisle Snell (alternate member) is currently considering the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2010 which was referred to the Committee by the House on 23 July 2010. Further public inquiries have been scheduled for 7 and 28 September 2010 and members of the public who would wish to speak with the Committee should contact the Committee Secretary Mrs Yvon Adams on 22003 or by email to yvonadams@assembly.gov.nf.

When a Bill is introduced into the Assembly it is usually accompanied by an explanatory memorandum. The explanatory memorandum to the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2010 reads -

“The purpose of this Bill is to address issues concerning the application of the legislation and the administration of claims.

The Bill adopts the approach of other jurisdictions in the Commonwealth in seeking to avoid claims of work-related stress arising from normal employment processes. In providing for this the Bill includes several new definitions including that of what constitutes an “injury”. This definition excludes from the definition of injury that which results from reasonable administrative action taken in a reasonable manner in respect of the employee’s employment. This reasonable administrative action is in turn defined to relate to reasonable action taken in the workplace by or on behalf of an employer.

The Bill also seeks to make the administrative process clear by vesting responsibility in the Employment Liaison Officer (ELO) who is to have the day to day management and control of the investigation and determination of claims. While the ELO is subject to direction by the Chief Executive Officer and the executive member, the ELO cannot be directed by either in matters that affect employees of the Administration, public sector agencies or territory instrumentalities.”.

Copies of the Bill and/or the Explanatory Memorandum can be obtained from the Committee Secretary or accessed on www.info.gov.nf under Legislative Assembly/Bills introduced awaiting passage.

The House will next meet on Wednesday 22 September 2010 at 10 am.

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 3 September 2010 and posted on the blog site http://yourparliamentyourvoice.blogspot.com/

Impact of Bills and Subordinate Legislation Committee, Information on Committees

Impact of Bills and Subordinate Legislation Committee
At its sitting on 23 July 2010 Minister Sheridan presented the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2010 and moved – That the Bill be agreed to in principle. A copy of the Bill and Explanatory Memorandum can be found on www.info.gov.nf. The Legislative Assembly subsequently referred the Bill to the Impact of Bills and Subordinate Legislation Committee, a standing committee of the House, for its consideration and report back to the House. The Committee hopes to present its findings at the 22 September 2010 sitting. The Committee on this occasion comprises Mr Michael King MLA (Chairman), Mrs Melissa Ward and Mr Lisle Snell (alternate member). The Committee held its first public inquiry on the Bill last Tuesday 17 August 2010.

Parliamentary Committees
Parliamentary committees can be established by –
• Statutes (statutory committees);
• Standing orders (standing committees SO 17 to 25); and
• Resolution of the Legislative Assembly (select committees SO 200 to 221).
The principle purpose of parliamentary committees is to perform functions which the House itself is not well fitted to perform.
Statutory Committees
Statutory committees are appointed in the manner prescribed in the relevant statute. For example –
• Immigration Committee – Immigration Act 1980;
• Social Services Committee – Social Services Act 1980
• Public Service Board – Public Sector Management Act 2000
Some statutes provide that a Member or Members of the Assembly serve on a statutory committee.
Standing Committees
Standing committees are appointed for the term of an Assembly. The Standing Orders currently provide for the following Standing Committees:
• Business Committee
• House Committee
• Standing Orders Committee
• Committee of Privileges
• Impact of Bills and Subordinate Legislation Committee
• Public Account and Estimates Committee
Select Committees
Select Committees are appointed by resolution of the Legislative Assembly and are usually given a date on or before which they must report to the House.

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 20 August 2010

Judgment, Term of Office of Members and Minister for Toursim visits NZ

We have received advice from the Supreme Court Registry that the judgment in the matter of SC 3/2010 - Christian v Griffiths - will be handed down on Thursday 19th August at 11.30am Norfolk time via video link in the Norfolk Island Court House. This matter relates to a petition under section 46 of the Legislative Assembly Act 1979 lodged with the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island on 23 March 2010 following the holding of a general election for the Thirteenth Legislative Assembly.

So to continue on with our weekly snippets on our Parliament –

Term of office of Members, Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Executive Members of the Legislative Assembly
The term of office of a Member of the Legislative Assembly commences on the date of his election and ends immediately before the date of the next general election (s. 34 of the Norfolk Island Act 1979).

The term of a Legislative Assembly, which is calculated from the date of its first meeting after a general election to the date of the next succeeding general election, shall not be more than three years (s. 35 of the Norfolk Island Act 1979).

The appointment of a person to an executive office takes effect on the day specified in the instrument of appointment and terminates when the Legislative Assembly first meets after a general election. (s. 14 of the Norfolk Island Act 1979).

A person elected to the office of Speaker or Deputy Speaker holds office until the Legislative Assembly first meets after a general election (unless those offices are vacated at an earlier date in accordance with s. 41 of the Norfolk Island Act 1979).

Minister for Tourism to pay courtesy call on his New Zealand government counterpart
The Minister for Tourism, Industry & Development, the Hon Andre Nobbs MLA, will in the near future be holidaying in New Zealand where he will pay a courtesy call on his counterpart in the New Zealand Government, the Associate Minister for Tourism the Hon Dr Jonathon Coleman to discuss a wide range of tourism related items of mutual interest. By invitation, Minister Nobbs will attend Question Time in the New Zealand Parliament; and be presenting to Dr Coleman, on behalf of the Norfolk Island community a magnificent framed photograph of our Island for the New Zealand Parliament.

Minister Nobbs will also meet with the Mayor of the New Plymouth District Council, Mr Peter Tennent, to continue their discussions on the establishment of a sister city relationship between Norfolk Island and New Plymouth. Our communities share many mutual interests – including the arts, culture and music – as well as significant events and Festivals that enhance our tourism. The Mayor in his recent letter to Minister Nobbs, shared that “This community already has a number of folk that are absolutely passionate about Norfolk, and there are a number of connections already…”.

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 13 August 2010

Parliamentary Procedure

We continue on with our weekly snippets on parliamentary procedure
The Norfolk Island Act of 1979 (Clth), section 45, provides – That the Legislative Assembly may make standing rules and orders, not inconsistent with a law of the Territory, with respect to the order and conduct of its business and proceedings. These are commonly referred to as The Standing Orders and they may be accessed on www.info.gov.nf under Legislative Assembly/Standing Orders. Drafting of the original Standing Orders was done with the assistance of the Clerks of the House of Representatives (Clth) back in 1979 with subsequent changes being made over the years; the most recent change being made in this Assembly was in April when the House changed Standing Order 20B to provide that, in addition to the Speaker ex officio, the number of members on the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee be increased from two to three. Standing Order No. 1 provides our Assembly with a general rule that – Any questions relating to procedure or the conduct of business of the House not provided for in our Assembly’s Standing Orders shall be decided according to the practice in the House of Representatives in the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia.

We have covered the Notice Paper and the Programme in recent weeks and this week we will turn to the Minutes of Proceedings and Hansard.

Minutes of Proceedings
The Norfolk Island Act 1979, s.44, requires Minutes of Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly to be kept and to be made available for inspection or purchase. The Clerk to the Legislative Assembly produces the Minutes of Proceedings, and in normal circumstances, they are available within seven days on www.info.gov.nf under Legislative Assembly/Minutes of Proceedings.

Hansard
Hansard, in brief, is the informal title for the verbatim printed reports of what is said in the Assembly; and whilst it has no statutory origin in Norfolk Island. Hansard is the only complete and permanent record of the full debates of the Legislative Assembly. The history of Hansard is interesting to note. From the second half of the sixteenth century the British Parliament prohibited all reporting and publishing of its proceedings. The Parliament believed it should deliberate in private and regarded any attempt to publicise its proceedings as a serious, punishable offence. By the late eighteenth century dissension among more progressive Members of Parliament, the growing weight of public opinion and the increasingly outspoken attacks of the press, persuaded the Parliament to relax its stance and in 1803, the Legislative Assembly of Commons passed a resolution giving the press the right to enter the Public Gallery. That same year William Cobbett, publisher of Cobbett's Weekly Political Register, added to his newspaper a supplement entitled Parliamentary Debates, which was a reprint of journalists’ reports of speeches extracted from other newspapers.

In 1812 that publication was taken over by Cobbett's assistant, T.C. Hansard, who in 1829 changed the title of the reports to Hansard's Parliamentary Debates. By the late 1870s dissatisfaction with the accuracy of the report was being expressed. As a result parliament voted Hansard the sum of 300 pounds a year for shorthand assistance. The Hansard family continued to produce the Parliamentary Debates until 1889. Other publishers continued to print transcripts of the debates until in 1909 the House of Commons took control of the reporting and printing of parliamentary debates. It was, however, during the 60 years of the Hansard family's publication that the name Hansard became synonymous with the printed debates. In 1943 the British Parliament reinstated the name Hansard in the title of its formal records. And as they say, the rest is history!

By way of interest In the 23 July issue of Your Parliament Your Voice, I mentioned that the Legislative Assembly was that evening hosting a small reception to celebrate the outstanding performance of Alex (Macca) McKenzie in his setting on Norfolk Island a world record for running 200 kms on a grass track.Macca has now posted a write up on his Norfolk run on the blog site http://www.suno.co.nz/Blogs/macca/.

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 6 August 2010.

Media Release

NORFOLK ISLAND CONVICT SITE ADDED TO THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST

Federal Environment Protection and Heritage Minister, Peter Garrett, and Norfolk Island Chief Minister, David Buffett, have welcomed an announcement by the World Heritage Committee that Norfolk Island’s Kingston and Arthur's Vale Historic Area has been included on the World Heritage List as part of the Australian Convict Sites inscription.

“Norfolk Island’s convict site is a rich historical landscape, where lessons from the past are relevant to the whole world,” said Mr Garrett.

“It holds a visual record of harsh and brutal conditions endured by forced penal migrants for more than 60 years from 1788, but it is also associated with innovative developments in the rehabilitation of criminals, that were later modelled to the rest of the world in the 1840s.

“The Norfolk Island story is part of a phenomenon in world history, the forced migration of prisoners to far-flung places, and their subsequent role in developing the cultural life and the economy of the places they were sent to.”

Mr Buffett welcomed the decision as being important for Norfolk Island.

“The Kingston and Arthur's Vale Historic Area had a reputation as one of the harshest and cruelest of Australia's penal settlements. A convict settlement spanning 1788-1855, it today comprises a large group of buildings from the convict era, some of which have been modified during the Pitcairn period (from 1856 to the present), substantial ruins and standing structures, archaeological remains, landform and landscape elements.

“Gaining World Heritage status will be good for Norfolk Island and stimulate tourism,” Mr. Buffett said.

“The process involved lengthy consultations and much hard work on the part of property managers and the community. I am extremely proud of the Island for getting this site onto the list,” Mr Buffett said.

The other sites that together make up Australia’s 18th World Heritage listing are:
• Old Government House and Domain, Hyde Park Barracks, Cockatoo Island Convict Site and Old Great North Road in New South Wales
• Fremantle Prison in Western Australia
• Brickendon and Woolmers Estates, Darlington Probation Station, Port Arthur Historic Site, Coal Mines Historic Site and the Cascades Female Factory in Tasmania

The Australian Convict Sites join more than 850 of the world’s most special places given this prestigious international recognition. Some other Australian places on the World Heritage List are the Sydney Opera House, the Great Barrier Reef, Shark Bay, and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

The Australian Convict Sites are also included on the National Heritage List and are protected under national environment law.

For more information and images go to www.heritage.gov.au


Media contacts: (Mr Garrett) Ben Pratt 0419 968 734
(Mr Buffett) Elizabeth Burns 0011 6723 22003

28 July Legislative Assembly Sitting & The Programme

The following substantive matters were discussed at the meeting of the Legislative Assembly this week:

•Authorisation under section 17A(1)(e) of the Immigration Act 1980 for Rauni and Nalani Lange to make application for a general entry permit. The motion was passed with the Minister advising the House that this was the first occasion that the Assembly had been asked to approve an application of this nature under the Immigration Act.
•Appointment for 12 months under the Public Sector Management Act 2000 of Frederick John Grose as a member of the Public Service Board and of David John South as a deputy of a Board Member of the Public Sector Board. The motions were passed.
•The Employment (Amendment) Bill 2010 was presented and then referred by the House to the Impact of Bills and Subordinate Legislation Committee for its consideration and report back to the House. Members on the Committee are Tim Sheridan, Mike King and Melissa Ward with Lisle Snell as the alternate member. Mr Sheridan has stood down from serving on the Committee during this inquiry because he is the Minister introducing the Bill. Mr. Snell will sit on the committee in his place.
•The three motions introduced at the 23 June 2010 sitting to transfer the registration of tourist accommodation units were all agreed to, with minor amendments. Subject to compliance with conditions specified in the motions approving the transfers, the motions achieve the following:
oTransfer of one unit from “The Bounty Lodge” to “Buck’s Point House”’
oTransfer of one unit from “Castaway Hotel and Apartments” to “Hideaway Retreat”
oTransfer of one unit from “The Bounty Lodge” to “Ball Bay House”.

The period prescribed in the Standing Orders for asking Questions without Notice is 60 minutes. Time was extended by 30 minutes at this sitting to accommodate the asking of further questions. Answers were provided to 11 of the 14 Questions on Notice and some 17 papers were tabled in the House at various stages of the proceedings. This would probably be a record for the number of papers tabled at one sitting since the inauguration of the Legislative Assembly in August 1979.

The formal Minutes of Proceedings of the business conducted in the Assembly will be published within seven days on www.info.gov.nf under the heading Legislative Assembly/Minutes of Proceedings.

To accommodate Members official and private travel in August and September the Legislative Assembly resolved to not meet again formally until 22 September 2010. Notwithstanding this decision, Members will continue to come together on a Tuesday as they do at present to discuss matters of topical interest in a more informal forum. In recent weeks Members have been discussing whether there is merit in the Assembly meeting every six weeks rather than monthly; and whilst no firm decision has been taken on this possibility, the lengthy time between now and the next sitting date in September will be used to assess whether the adoption of a six week meeting calendar could have merit. I would find it most helpful if members of the community have a view on this proposal to email me on speaker@assembly.gov.nf or write to, or phone me at, the Legislative Assembly.

Last week I undertook to share with you each week some of the procedures of the Legislative Assembly, so let’s continue.

The Programme
The Programme (always printed on blue paper) details the actual business that is to be transacted at a meeting of the Legislative Assembly. The order of business on the programme is prescribed in Standing Order 78. Should the Assembly wish to change the order of business as prescribed in Standing Order 78, it is necessary to move a motion under standing order 244 to suspend so much of standing orders as is needed in order to accommodate the change. Matters for listing on the Programme should be lodged with the Clerk by 10 am on the day before the sitting of the House. The Clerk prepares and circulates the Programme by email/hard copy on the day before a meeting of the Legislative Assembly.

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 30 July 2010.

Media Release

The Chief Minister said this week that it was wonderful to see such a large part of the community participate in the Relay for Life last week-end.

“It is pleasing to note that moneys raised for the Cancer Council will be used in part to fund support services here on the Island” the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister also commented on the Island of History Conference which was hosted this week by the Professional Historian’s Association. The Conference ran from Tuesday to Friday and comprised of a number of international and local speakers.

“It was my pleasure to open the conference on Tuesday morning and I am confident that the delegates have had a wonderful week exploring Norfolk Island’s unique living history. The historical significance of the Kingston, Arthurs Vale Historical Area will hopefully will be recognised in Brasilia next week by being inscribed on the World Heritage Listing” the Chief Minister said.

This week also saw a visit from the Attorney General’s Department, First Assistant Secretary Territories Division, Julian Yates, the newly appointed Assistant Secretary, Richard Glenn Territories Division and the Director of Territories East, Alison Green. The officers had a series of meetings and site visits which resulted in further developing the relationship between the Commonwealth and Norfolk Island at an officer level.

The newly appointed Assistant Secretary, Richard Glenn indicated that he had visited the Island when he was a boy and that the experience had left him wanting to return. In his current position he hopes to visit the Island regularly to assist him in engaging meaningful dialogue between the Commonwealth and Norfolk Island.

In addition this week the Chief Minister hosted a function for the ultramarathon champion Alex “Macca” McKenzie who ran 29 hours 56 minutes and 45 seconds over last week end to break the record for running 200kms on a grass track.

The Chief Minister said. “It was an amazing effort and we hope to see “Macca” back next year to defend his title”


23rd July 2010

David E. Buffett
Chief Minister

The upcoming House Sitting, Island of History Conference and Alex (Macca) McKenzie

Online this week you will find a list of matters appearing on the Notice Paper for the next meeting of the Legislative Assembly on 28 July 2010. The full text of the Notice Paper can be found under “Assembly documents” on www.info.gov.nf. Over the next few weeks I will share with you some procedures of the Legislative Assembly which you may find helpful in understanding the operation of the Legislative Assembly. This week we will talk about the Notice Paper.

The Notice Paper
The Notice Paper (always printed on yellow paper) is a document which outlines all of the business which is currently before the Legislative Assembly. The Notice Paper contains –

•A list of Bills and motions that are to be introduced
•A list of Bills and motions that have been introduced at an earlier sitting and which are awaiting further debate - these matters are called Orders of the Day
•Questions on notice (Standing Orders 99 to 101)

The Notice Paper closes at 4pm on the Thursday preceding a meeting of the Legislative Assembly. Matters for the Notice Paper are lodged at the Office of the Clerk. The Clerk then prepares the draft Notice Paper for consideration by the Business Committee. The Clerk is available to assist with the preparation of Notices and to give advice on matters related thereto.

The order of business on the Notice Paper is settled by the Business Committee. (Standing Order 80). The Business Committee comprises the Speaker and two other Members appointed by the Legislative Assembly (Standing Order 20. The Clerk circulates the settled Notice Paper by email/hard copy on the Friday before the meeting of the Legislative Assembly and arranges publication in the Norfolk Islander.

Island of History Conference
The Island of History Conference was held this week at Governors Lodge and Mr Peter Muhlhausler presented a key-note address on the social history of the Tahitian language on Pitcairn Island. It is hoped that his presentation will be available to the public in due course. Readers will recall the Legislative Assembly put in place the Norfolk Island Language (Norf’k) Act 2004. In August 2007 the UNESCO Endangered Languages Program agreed to include Norf’k in its next edition of the Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger of Disappearing. This followed a submission to UNESCO by the Norfolk Island Government of a research paper setting out the case for recognition and protection of our language. This was a significant step in building recognition of the unique language and culture of Norfolk Island. Our Acting Clerk, Mrs. Gaye Evans JP, continues to work at ensuring continuing recognition of our language by teaching it at the Norfolk Island Central School.

Assembly reception to acknowledge the contribution and courage of Alex (Macca) McKenzie
The Legislative Assembly is hosting a small reception this evening at Bounty Lodge Restaurant to celebrate the outstanding performance of Alex (Macca) McKenzie in his setting on Norfolk Island a world record for running 200 kms on a grass track; to acknowledge his support team from New Zealand; and also to thank those members of the community who were directly involved in making this such a memorable event for Norfolk Island. Guests at the Reception include The Relay for Life Committee, the time and lap counters, Alex’s local sponsors and others, all of whom played a direct role in helping him in his achievement. Just as Alex was heard over and over to say about our community “that we are awesome”, we in return hold him in awe.

It is events like this that have a flow on effect to increase tourism to The World of Norfolk – thank you again to The Relay for Life Committee, the Relay Teams, the Relay sponsors and all those wonderful people in the Norfolk Island community who played a part – no matter how small - in making last weekend such an outstanding happening on our beautiful Island.

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 23 July 2010

41st Conference of Presiding Officers and Clerks of Australia and the Pacific Regions Darwin Australia 3 to 7 July 2010

The Acting Clerk to the Legislative Assembly, Mrs Gaye Evans JP, and I, as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, represented our Parliament at the 41st Conference of Australian and Pacific Presiding Officers and Clerks which is held annually on rotation between the Australian Region and the Pacific Region. This year it was hosted by the Northern Territory Parliament under the Chairmanship of Speaker Jane Aargaard from Monday 5 July to and including Thursday 8 July 2010. There were fifty delegates including Presiding Officers and Clerks from ten Australian parliaments and seven Pacific parliaments, along with observers from Prince Edward Island (Canada), Timor-Leste, Tuvalu and Victorian Parliaments.

Some 14 papers were presented covering a wide range of topics including –

•Returning to the Fundamentals of Parliamentary Procedure (NSW)
•The modern Member of Parliament: legislator, ombudsman or social worker? (Queensland)
•Enhancing scrutiny in question time – new practices for questions without notice in the A.C.T. Legislative Assembly
•Promoting youth engagement with parliament: youth parliament (New Zealand)

Anyone wishing to read Conference papers should contact Mrs Gaye Evans on 22003 or by email on clerk@assembly.gov.nf.

Each parliament presented a report on their jurisdiction and Norfolk Island’s report is published in full below on this blog site.

The opportunity was taken for Presiding Officers and the Clerks to also meet independently of one another in a workshop environment, thereby allowing for independent discussion on issues specific to the roles that Presiding Officers and Clerks perform.

For example, issues discussed by the Presiding Officers covered areas such as Question Time Developments; Electronic Devices in Chamber; Dress standings in Chamber; Private Members’ Time v Executive Government’s time and Dealing with Difficult Members – all of which are topical to the Speakership of our Legislative Assembly.

A Management meeting of the Australian CPA Region was held as it always is at this annual conference along with a meeting of the Trustees of the CPA Education Trust Fund which provides funding on application to neighbouring parliaments in the Pacific Region for training and equipment up to the value of $20,000 annually.

Norfolk Island endeavours to be represented at this annual Conference whenever possible as the benefits of networking with the Presiding Officers and Clerk of each of the Australian and Pacific parliaments cannot be overstated.

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 16 July 2010

Speaker's Jurisdiction Report at the 41st Conference of Presiding Officers and Clerks of Australia and the Pacific Regions Darwin Australia

“Madam Speaker, if I could preface my remarks on behalf of the Norfolk Island Legislature by thanking you very much, and the Northern Territory Parliament, along with Clerk, Ian McNeill, and his parliamentary officers for their generosity and for hosting this conference.

The last 12 months for Norfolk Island have been pretty challenging because, like the rest of the world we too, have been struggling with the global financial meltdown. Although we are a very tiny jurisdiction with a population of only 1800 people, we are not strangers at having to deal with difficulties and, while people around the world have lost their homes, their jobs, their savings, the Norfolk Island government responded with just a 3% increase in GST we pay locally, taking it to 12%, while continuing to spend money on government projects, thereby injecting funds into the private sector. You could say it was a mini-stimulus package.

However, like everyone else we do very much look forward to a reversal of the global downturn and a return to former buoyant tourist numbers because tourism is the basis of our Island economy.

In August 2009, our Assembly celebrated 30 years of internal self-government which we marked with a ceremonial sitting and various community activities. The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia Her Excellency Quentin Bryce AC and His Excellency, Mr Michael Bryce AM AE, were to have been our guests at these celebrations but, regrettably, due to our inclement weather they were unable to land.

You would of course all be aware of the joint initiative of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the World Bank to work with the various CPA Regions to develop “Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures”. The Norfolk Island legislature welcomed that opportunity which allowed for reflection on how our legislature conducts its parliamentary business, and whether or not all of the benchmarks are appropriate for us. We came to the conclusion that, in the very few cases where it could be said our processes do not accord with the benchmarks, that in no way means we are “doing it incorrectly” or it is not best practice for our community. It just means we are different in how we go about doing our parliamentary business. The yardstick for us was whether or not the basic tenets of democracy are working for the overall advantage of the community they are designed to serve.

For example, in Norfolk Island, we currently have a hybrid system of representative government; it is a mix of Westminster, Consensus and Direct Democracy. Members of the Legislative Assembly can vote according to their conscience on every issue as independent members. All members have a deliberative vote, including the Speaker who, along with the Deputy Speaker, is chosen by vote of the House.

The House also determines the number of ministers of the government to be appointed by the Administrator and of equal importance, the House may determine whether the Administrator should remove a Minister from office if the Members are unhappy with the performance of that Minister.

The Commonwealth Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Brendon O’Conner MP paid a 24 hour familiarisation visit to the Island in November last year speaking with Members of the Assembly and Members of the community. To the extent that Australia has jurisdiction in Norfolk Island, it is exercised by this Minister.
Flowing out of the Minister’s visit, officers from the Attorney-General’s Department and the Department of Finance and Deregulation arrived on Island mid February this year, bringing with them a draft Bill containing substantial and far reaching change to the current form of governance on Norfolk Island. That Bill, The Territories law reform Bill 2010, has now passed through the House of Representatives without amendment. However, following a trip to Canberra by three of the four Ministers of the Norfolk Island Government – namely, The Chief Minister, The Attorney General and the Minster for Tourism, Industry and Development there is some hope of amendments prior to the Bill being passed in the Senate. The key concerns expressed by Norfolk Island in respect to the Bill are:

1) The erosion of the ability to self-govern.
2) The addition of a veto power for matters pertaining to Schedule 2 of the Norfolk Island Act which undermine the very principle that underlines the democratic rights of Norfolk Island voters to govern themselves in relation to matters that are specific to Norfolk Island; and finally
3) A new ability in the Bill to remove the Legislative Assembly.

We have also had a number of visits from the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories over the last 12 months. During their June visit last year, the Committee met with Members of the Assembly to discuss the Committee’s then inquiry into the changing economic environment in the Indian Ocean Territories of Cocos and Christmas Islands. That meeting was of mutual benefit to all parties.

On a lighter note, the 13th Assembly has brought with it two benchmarks to be recorded in our history books. The first is a first which is that I, as the Clerk to the Legislative Assembly, following a general election for the 13th Assembly in March this year – I as the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly since 1984 and prior to that as Deputy Clerk since 1981 - on 24 March this year, became the first woman Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Norfolk Island. What an interesting reversal of role that is turning out to be. One might ask why, after a career of almost 30 years as a parliamentary officer, would I “change sides” as one of my clerkly colleagues was heard to say. I guess it was a matter of timing. The role of the Clerk is one that carries with it the inviolate rule of impartiality and an understanding that the Clerk does not have, let alone express, a political view.

Easier said than done in a small community such as ours of 1800 people and 1200 voters, however every decision taken by the parliament impacts directly on each member of what is a very close knit community I have to confess I had approached a point in my role as Clerk where I felt that I was no longer able to remain impartial and not express a point of view.

As Speaker I now have that voice I did not have as the Clerk, and I have no regrets at the decision I have taken.

The second benchmark, as I conclude, is that we now have a political party on the Island, Norfolk Labour, which is affiliated with the Australian Labour Party - a mainstream political party. Like the Isle of Man and the Canadian Northwest Territories just to name two that I am aware of, we have had to date a non-party legislature where each member is an independent, voting according to his or her conscience, with consensus government holding sway.

At the general election in March this year, the Norfolk Labour Party fielded four candidates for the first time; only one was successful, and that Member has self-styled himself “Leader of the Opposition” and is endeavouring to fill that role as it would be filled elsewhere. However this is not an office which is recognised either in the Legislative Assembly, or the Public Sector Remuneration Tribunal at this time.

In conclusion, I look forward to being able to again join you all at the next Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference.

Thank you.

23 June 2010 sitting of the House

The Appropriation Bill 2010-2011 was passed unanimously and unamended on Wednesday the 23rd June with all Members participating actively in debate on the Bill with varying views and philosophies being exchanged about the budgetary process and the way forward in the next financial year. I am advised that the Bill will be presented to the Executive Council for assent on 29 June 2010. The composition and role of the Executive Council is prescribed in Part III, Section 11, of the Norfolk Island Act of 1979. The Executive Council consists of the persons for the time being holding executive office (the Government Ministers);. The Administrator is entitled to attend all meetings of the Executive Council and shall preside at all meetings at which he or she is present. The role of the Executive Council is to advise the Administrator on all matters relating to the government of the Territory.

The following additional matters were considered at the sitting:

• Exemption of payment of customs duty by St. John’s Ambulance who imported medical supplies/equipment for the community which would otherwise have attracted $1462.57 customs duty. The motion was agreed.
• Three applications under the Tourist Accommodation Act 1984 relating to transfer of existing accommodation licences from one property to another as follows:
o One unit from “The Bounty Lodge” accommodation house to “The Buck’s Point House” on portion 34i2(a) Martins Road;
o One unit from “Castaway Hotel and Apartments” to “Hideaway Retreat” on portion 153i4(a) George Hunn Nobbs Road;
o One unit from “The Bounty Lodge” to the “Ball Bay House” on portion 49e3 Collins Head Road
Debate on all three motions was adjourned until the 28 July sitting of the House.
• The re-appointment of Nadia Cuthbertson, Morgan Evans, David Sanders and David Porter as members of the Norfolk Island Government Tourist Bureau for six months commencing on 1 July 2010. The motion was agreed.
• The Road Traffic (Amendment No. 2) Bill 2010 which was passed through all stages at the sitting.
• The Public Sector Management (Amendment) Bill 2010 which was introduced with debate being adjourned until the 28 July sitting of the House.
• The Child Welfare (Amendment No. 2) Bill 2010, which was also passed.

All of the above Bills and related documents can be found on www.info.gov.nf under “Legislative Assembly/Bills Passed Awaiting Passage/13thAssembly"

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 24 June 2010

2010/2011 budget

The Appropriation Bill 2010-2011 was introduced into the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday the 16th June and vigorous debate ensued. In addition to tabling the Bill and when making the traditional Budget Speech, the Minister with responsibility for finance, the Hon Craig Anderson, tabled a comprehensive document titled “Budget for the financial year 2010-2011 Budget related paper – Program Budget Narratives”. The Budget Speech provided background to the 2010/2011 budget and the following extracts from the Budget Narrative may be of interest:

“The 2010/11 budget of the Administration of Norfolk Island contains several significant changes designed to improve both the transparency of the island’s finances and the information provided in relation to public expenditure.

“A policy decision has been made by the 13th Legislative Assembly to bring most of the previous Government Business Enterprises (GBE’s) into the Revenue Fund. This has the effect of making the expenditures of these operations subject to appropriations passed by the Legislative Assembly as part of the Appropriation Bill. In the past there was no such requirement for these operations to have annual appropriations passed by the Assembly and expenditure was at the discretion of the responsible Executive Member.

…………….

“The second major change in the 2010/2011 budget is the phased introduction of program-based performance budgeting with approximately 30% of the Administration having their budgets presented in this format……….”

If you would like to read the full text of the Budget related paper you can find it on www.info.gov.nf under “Legislative Assembly/Bills Passed Awaiting Passage/13thAssembly/Appropriation Bill 2010-2011Budget Narrative”.

As a mark of respect to the Deputy Speaker, Mr Lisle Snell MLA, who received advice during the Assembly lunch break that his brother Keith Snell has passed away, the House adjourned the remaining business on the Notice Paper for consideration at the next sitting on 23 June 2010.

Assembly documents can be accessed on www.info.gov.nf