Linking Hands Across the World

This week we “link hands” with Lord Howe Island who through Rick Kleiner have been in contact with Norfolk to let us know that they are hosting “Australia’s Small Island Forum” April 30 to May 4, 2012. A website has been created for the event – www.asiflordhoweisland.com – from which we have taken the following:

“Australia's Small Island forum, creating opportunity and embracing solutions.

“As readers will be aware Lord Howe Island was World Heritage listed in 1989 and declared a National Marine Park in 1998.  Originally settled in 1834, it has a permanent population of approximately 350 residents, many of whom are descendants of the original settlers.  Now in 2011 due to minimal development and the protection measures put into place by not only the community, but the LHIB, visitors are able to explore and discover the natural attractions of the Island that have been immaculately preserved, thus creating a thriving tourism industry.”

“Across the globe and especially around the Australian mainland are a series of small island communities who are facing common challenges in terms of their economic, social and environmental futures. To come together to discuss these challenges and share successes, seems to be an opportunity that the leadership of these communities would relish. Lord Howe Island, given its proactive approach to community and economic development, its innovation in terms of environmental sustainability and its tourism infrastructure appears an ideal location to host a gathering that brings together people committed to small Island development and who are keen to learn from, and leap frog on best small Island practices from around the world.”

The Themes for the Forum are –

• Growing Sustainable Communities
• Enterprise and livelihood – Tourism, Economy and Environment
• Island futures – Technology and Services
• Culture, Place, Identity and Small Islands

The key speakers at this time are –

• Tim Flannery, is one of Australia's leading thinkers and writers. An internationally acclaimed scientist, explorer and conservationist, he has published more than 130 peer-reviewed scientific papers.
• Peter Kenyon, Director of Bank of I.D.E.A.S, is a social capitalist and community enthusiast.  Over the last two decades he has worked with over 1200 communities throughout Australia, New Zealand and overseas seeking to facilitate fresh and creative ways that stimulate community and economic renewal.
• Mal Bryce, Professor, Curtin University, For most of his working life Mal Bryce has been engaged in developing public policy for Economic Development. In the last 25 years he has worked as a cabinet minister, company director, corporate manager and senior consultant.
• Gwilym Gibbons, Career spans venue, festival and partnership management across public, private and community sectors (including: Destination Management, Economic Development Partnerships and Community Planning).
• Toni Gregory- Hunt, Business Operations Manager, Chatham Islands, is the Business Operations Manager for the Chatham Islands Enterprise Trust which is a charitable trust set up in 1991 by the New Zealand Government to manage the infrastructural assets on behalf of its stakeholders (the community).
• Philip Hayward, is a research professor at Southern Cross University, international network convener of SICRI (The Small Island Cultures Research Initiative) and editor of Shima: The International Journal of Research into Island Cultures. He has written four books and a series of journal articles on island cultures and has produced seven CDs of island music.

For further information about the key speakers go to http://www.asiflordhoweisland.com/key_speakers and to find out more about the Forum email lee.rogers@lhib.nsw.gov.au.

Dated 25 November 2011

Milestone for Women in PNG

“Your Parliament – Your Voice”

From the Office of the Speaker

 

The following article was forwarded to me by Ms Lisa Baker from the Western Australia Parliament.  Ms Baker is the Chair of the Steering Committee of the CWPG (Commonwealth Women’s Parliamentarian Group - Australian Region). The article is about seats for women in the Parliament of Papua New Guinea and as today Friday the 25^th of November 2011 is White Ribbon Day, the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, I thought this article would be of timely interest.

 "Vote hailed as milestone for women in PNG (Jo Chandler November 24, 2011)

WOMEN danced, wept and embraced outside the Papua New Guinea Parliament yesterday as years of campaigning culminated in a watershed vote to allow 22 reserved seats for women in the almost exclusively male chamber, where just one of 109 seats is presently held by a female. With time running out before the 2012 general election, expectation and anxiety were high among supporters of the bill, with women loudly admonishing MPs from the packed public gallery when the debate was delayed on Monday.

But encouraged by Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, the constitutional amendment to allow the women's seats, one for each province, was eventually passed by 72 votes to two, with several members abstaining and some absent.

''Only with the input of women will PNG go on and thrive to become a great nation,'' said Mr. O'Neill. The president of the National Council of Women, Schola Kakas, described the move as ''a cry of the mothers of this nation''. She added: ''So many of our problems as a society are faced by women - health, violence, maternal mortality. Only women can understand what must be done to make things better.”

One of the nation's most seasoned female political campaigners, Greens leader Dorothy Tekwie, was in the country's remote north-west when she heard the news. She said women around her were overjoyed at the bill, which she said was required if women were to push through fiercely male-dominated political and social cultures. ''They were just jubilant, clapping their hands. They said - the men too - 'Taim bilong ol meri' - 'time for women'.''

Celebrations were later tempered by confusion even among experts and key players as to whether the Equality and Participation Bill (or the Women's Bill, as it is widely known) faces another legislative hurdle if the women's seats are to be in place in time for next year's general election.

Dame Carol Kidu, the sole elected woman in the Parliament and sponsor of the bill, said a critical second element of the bill had vanished from the notice paper, but she hoped it would be resolved in the next few days. If not, the seats would probably not be in place by the poll. This issue remains on a knife edge, she said, as the enabling legislation will require more votes to pass than the number which secured the constitutional reform yesterday.

The vote marked a huge milestone in PNG and signalled a hunger for change in the nation, said Dame Carol. ''A lot of people who in the early days said they would never support it are supporting it now. So whatever happens, there has been huge progress.'' Queensland-born Dame Carol, 63, the widow of former chief justice Sir Buri Kidu, will retire at next year's election. Given entrenched cultural and financial barriers to women's participation in politics, there were wide concerns that PNG could become the 10th nation in the world without a single elected female, most of them being Australia's near neighbours in the Pacific.

''The changes are very significant,'' said Dr Jim Macpherson, a member of the PNG legislative working group. ''They are the first changes to the membership of Parliament since independence - and in some ways a stunning reversal and recognition of the way gender assumptions have excluded women from decision-making.''

The next sitting of the Legislative Assembly is on Wednesday 7 December 2011 at 10 am.

To read the Notice Paper, Programme and Minutes of Proceedings and legislation tabled in the House go to www.info.gov.nf. Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 25 November 2011 and posted on the blog site http://yourparliamentyourvoice.blogspot.com

Sitting of the Legislative Assembly on 9 November 2011

“Your Parliament – Your Voice”

From the Office of the Speaker

Sitting of the Legislative Assembly on 9 November 2011

The Legislative Assembly met on Wednesday 9 November 2011 at 10 am and concluded at 4.30 pm with a lunch break between 12.40 pm and 2 pm. It was a pleasure to have the students in years 5 and 6 at the Norfolk Island Central School attending for part of the proceedings.  These students are currently studying their stage 3 unit on public speaking and debating.

The House rose for a period of silence to acknowledge the passing of John Nunn Scott, Milton John Hayes, Dorothy May Pearce, Marli Ralson, Eleanor Brenda Reed and Dorothy Eunice Wolferstan,

Answers were provided both to questions without notice and on notice.

The following papers were tabled:

1.    Letter to Hon Simon Crean MP dated 7 October 2011 re Protection of Norfolk Island’s Cultural Heritage

2.      Immigration Policy and Guidelines as at July 11, 2011

3.    Norfolk Island  Hospital Enterprise Budgeted Financial Statements y/e 30 June 2012

4.    Virement of Funds since 7 September 2011

5.    Norfolk Island Hospital Enterprise Budgeted Financial Statements y/e 30 June 2012

6.    Annual Report from the Road Traffic Committee

7.    Disaster and Emergency Plan 2011

8.    Employment (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2011

9.    Traffic (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2011

10.   Letter to the Administrator dated 13 October 2011 re Impact of Extension of Clth laws to Norfolk Island

11.   Report on Public Consultation for Proposed Variation to the NI Plan

12.   Official Survey (Amendment) Bill 2011 – Explanatory Memorandum

13.   Employment (Amendment No 2) Bill 2011 – Detail stage amendments dated 28 October 2011

 

The following Messages were reported –

Message No. 23 from the Administrator in accordance with section 24 of the Norfolk Island Act 1979 advising that The Hon Simon Crean MP has instructed that assent be withheld from the Customs (Amendment) Bill 2011 dated 14 October 2011

Message No. 24 from the Administrator under section 21 of the Norfolk Island Act 1979 advising that on 18 October 2011 he declared his assent to the Social Services (Amendment) Act 2011 (Act No 13 of 2011), the Electricity Supply (Amendment) Act 2011 (Act No 14 of 2011), the Customs (Amendment) Act 2011 (Act No 15 of 2011 and the Customs (Amendment No 2) Act 2011 (Act No 16 of 2011),

A letter dated 31 October 2011 from the Administrator was also reported advising that a referendum was to be conducted on a question related to recent amendments to the traffic laws in respect of seatbelts, “L” and “P” plates and the wearing of cycle helmets.

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

1)       Mrs Nadia Lozzi-Cuthbertson was re-appointed as the Presiding Member and Mr Aristides Alexis Martinez as the Deputy Presiding Member of the Public Service Board

2)       The House resolved to make a determination to approve an amendment to the Norfolk Island Plan to allow for an “Industry – Noxious, Hazardous or Offensive”: at Portion 85, specifically a proposed shed to be used for the processing of carcasses for meat and by-products

3)       The Official Survey (Amendment) Bill 2011 was presented with debate on the Bill being adjourned

4)       A motion to note a bundle of papers relating to the airport fire service was debated and agreed to

5)       The motion to increase the Healthcare Levy was agreed

6)       Debate resumed on the Employment (Amendment No. 2) Bill 2011; the Bill having been agreed to in principle and Minister Sheridan having proposed detail stage amendments dated 28 October 2011, debate was adjourned on the question – That the amendments be agreed to

7)       Debate resumed on the Healthcare (Amendment No. 3) Bill 2011 and adjourned for further consideration at a later sitting

8)       The Married Persons (Equality of Status) Bill 2011 was agreed to

The next sitting of the Legislative Assembly is on Wednesday 7 December 2011 at 10 am.

To read the Notice Paper, Programme and Minutes of Proceedings and legislation tabled in the House go to www.info.gov.nf. Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 11 November 2011 and posted on the blog site http://yourparliamentyourvoice.blogspot.com