News to Share this Week 30 April 2012

“Your Parliament – Your Voice”

From the Office of the Speaker

News to share this week –

Her Majesty The Queen's Diamond Jubilee 2012

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

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

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

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

We share the following received from Lord Howe:

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

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

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

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

May sitting of the Legislative Assembly

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

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