Australia Day 2011

The large crowd gathered at Government House Wednesday afternoon warmly applauded the announcement by His Honour the Administrator, Mr Owen Walsh, that two long term Island residents had been made Members of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours list. They are Ms Marie Bailey for her service to tourism and hospitality and to the community of Norfolk Island over many years; and to Mr Bill Blucher for his service to the community and to politics, particularly through the Legislative Assembly of Norfolk Island.

The following community members and organisations also received recognition and awards

· Allan Tavener - Citizen of the Year 2011

· Mark Kalsrap –Junior Sports Award 2011.

The Administrator’s Award of Certificates of Appreciation 2011 went to –

· Jennifer Perrino; David McCowan and Barbara Shelley, being members of the Norfolk Island Counselling Service;

· The Emergency Management Team; and

· The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology – Norfolk Island.

I know I speak on behalf of all of my colleagues and the staff at the Legislative Assembly in extending hearty congratulations to you all for your well deserved recognition

2011 is also the year for recognition of women and the meaningful role they play globally. For example -

International Women’s Day

This year marks the centenary of International Women’s Day which is traditionally celebrated on the 8^th of March. The Theme for 2011 is “Equal Access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women” and I thought the following passage from the United Nations website about the International Women’s Day worth sharing.

“Why dedicate a day exclusively to the celebration of the world’s women? In adopting its resolution on the observance of Women’s Day, the General Assembly cited two reasons: to recognise the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation, equality and development of women; and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security. For the women of the world, the Day’s symbolism has a wide meaning: it is an occasion to review how far they have come in their struggle for equality, peace and development. It is also an opportunity to unite, network and mobilize for meaningful change.” (http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/iwd)

Commonwealth Day 2011

Less than one week after the celebration of International Women’s Day this year Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth will release her Commonwealth Day Message for 2011. Her Majesty has chosen the theme “Women as Agents for Change”. You can find detail in recent issues of Your Parliament Your Voice of plans in place to commemorate Commonwealth Day on Norfolk Island this year.

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 28 January 2011

First Sitting of the Legislative Assembly for 2011

The Legislative Assembly met on 19 January 2011 at 10 am and concluded shortly before 5 pm with a lunch break between 12.30 pm and 2 pm. The sitting agenda was full with the following matters addressed.

Condolences were recorded in respect of the passing of Alfred Hugh Sampson, Rosina Ruth Park and Seremaia Batirua. On behalf of my Assembly colleagues and the Norfolk Island community I extended our sincere sympathy to all in Australia who have suffered deep and tragic loss at this time as a consequence of the catastrophic floods that have devastated so many parts of the eastern States of Australia, in particular neighbouring Queensland. The Chief Minister joined me in offering words of condolence.

Time for questions – both without notice and on notice – was robust and answers were provided to some 18 questions on the Notice Paper. Since the commencement of the 13th Assembly there have been 115 questions placed on notice.

The following papers were tabled:

• Review of Telecommunications Competition on Norfolk Island (Minister Nobbs);
• Statement of Intention re Self Funded Retirees (Chief Minister);
• Funding Agreement for the Territory of Norfolk Island (Chief Minister). This document can be accessed on www.ni.net.nf;
• Inbound passenger statistics for December 2010 (Minister Nobbs);
• Virements authorised by executive member under Public Moneys Act 1979 (Minister Anderson);
• Financial Indicators as at November 2010 (Minister Anderson);
• Instrument of appointment of Chief Magistrate (Minister Anderson);
• Report on Public Consultation for Proposed Variation to the Norfolk Island Plan (to allow outdoor sport and recreation facilities at the Bicentennial complex Rawson Oval) including the Norfolk Island Zoning Map with “& Outdoor Recreation facilities” included;

Minister Sheridan made statements about,-
• Activities of the Emergency Services during tropical cyclone warning; and
• BVDV Programme on the Norfolk Island herd.

Mr King, Chairman of the Impact of Bills and Subordinate Legislation Committee, presented the Report of the Committee on its inquiry into the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2010. Debate on the report has been adjourned. The report can be accessed on www.info.gov.nf under Legislative Assembly/Committee Reports.

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

• The House agreed an amendment to the Norfolk Island Plan to change the use of the Bicentennial Complex and Rawson Hall oval to read “Public Building, Park & Outdoor Sport & Recreation Facilities”;
• Approval was given to exempt the Lions Club from payment of customs duty to the value of $246.09 on Christmas Cakes;
• A motion was passed requesting the Government to bring to the House by the May 2011 sitting a detailed written report on the desirability or otherwise of maintaining government policy which allows intrusion by government owned business on private sector commercial activities;
• A motion proposed by Mr King in respect of the policy relating to lump sum payments under the Social Services Act 1980 was debated and adjourned;
• Approval was given under the Tourist Accommodation Act 1984 to the transfer of registration of one unit from Castaway Hotel and Apartments to “Ahstyk” and of one unit from Castaway Hotel and Apartments to “Rocky Point Lodge”; the approvals are conditional on certain requirements being met;
• A motion move by Mr King at the December sitting in respect of the deregulation of telecommunications was debated and defeated;
• Debate resumed from the November sitting on the Provident (Amendment) Bill 2010. and the Bill was agreed to.

A change to the sitting pattern of the House was agreed by the majority of members with the result that the next sitting of the Legislative Assembly is scheduled for Wednesday 2 March 2011 at 10 am and thereafter at six weekly intervals. Consequent on this decision it is anticipated that the House in the next six months will sit on 2 March, 13 April, 25 May and 6 July 2011. The Norfolk Island Act 1979 provides that the Administrator shall convene a meeting of the Assembly when requested to do so by three Members of the Assembly.

Mr Robert Patch PSM, Director, Norfolk Island Section, Territories Division, returns to the Island on 23 January for further discussions. He will be joined on 27 January by Mr Steve Clay, Acting Assistant Secretary, Territories East Branch. Details of their visit will be published elsewhere.

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 21 January 2011

Commonwealth Day 2011

This year Commonwealth Day will be celebrated on Monday 14 March 2011 and the theme is “Women as Agents of Change”.

Each year the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (the CPA) encourages all the CPA Branches in the Commonwealth of Nations, of which Norfolk Island is a Branch, to raise the awareness of the Commonwealth and the CPA among our younger citizens. This year the CPA celebrates its 100th anniversary since it was formed as the Empire Parliamentary Association in 1911.

In my pre Christmas issue of Your Parliament Your Voice I mentioned the opportunity for young Norfolk Islanders living in the UK, who are in the age range of 18 to 25 and who are interested in parliamentary affairs, to apply to represent Norfolk at the Commonwealth Day celebrations on 14 March being organised by the CPA in London. There are two places available and it is great that we have had an eligible male apply. Please, if you know of any of our young people living in the UK do give me a call as applications close on 4 February 2011.

The CPA also offers grant funding to CPA Branches to help them organise their Commonwealth Day programmes and we have applied for funding for a project we are planning to design around this year’s theme of “Women as Agents for Change”. The School is building an exciting website called “The Living Library” and if you haven’t already done so do take a look at www.livinglibrary.edu.nf. It is a work in progress and I know that Mrs Magri won’t mind my sharing the following from their website –

“The idea began in Denmark and the Living Library operated at large music festivals and invited people ... to be ‘books’ and sit down with a ‘reader’ who could ask questions about all aspects of their life - like where they come from, their family background, how they occupy their daily lives, how they see their society, things that might worry them or inspire them, and so on. It was very successful and since its inception the Living Library concept has been adapted and developed by other countries and organizations to suit their environment, budget and community needs.”

The key component of our Commonwealth Day project is to create an e-book that tells stories of women who have been meaningful agents for change in the history of Norfolk Island starting with the women on Pitcairn through to the present day on Norfolk Island. We thought ten women would be a good starting point but the wonderful thing about an e-book is that it can grow as we think of more stories to tell! Off course our goal is to have the e-book on the Living Library website.

Projects with prizes for our school children to compete in are also being planned around the Commonwealth Day theme so start thinking boys and girls about special women that you can tell a story about – and involve Mum and Dad in sharing memories with you too – you could even make it an exciting family project because Norfolk has some very special stories that it can tell about our women!. We will have more detail to give you when you return to school so stay tuned.

Wednesday the 19th January 2011 is the date of our first sitting of the Legislative Assembly in 2011 and you will find full detail of matters on the Notice Paper elsewhere in this publication. As you probably know, as well as having monthly formal sittings of the Legislative Assembly that are broadcast, Members also come together each Tuesday morning for an informal meeting to discuss topical issues and to share information. These meetings are not broadcast but they are minuted. This week was a meeting with a difference as the 7.30 Report film crew spent some time with us filming our meeting and later interviewing the Chief Minister. We look forward to seeing footage of their Island visit in due course on the ABC on Channel 2..

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 14 January 2011