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
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
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
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
Friday, July 16, 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
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.
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.
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