From the Office of the Speaker 19 October 2012

“Your Parliament – Your Voice”

From the Office of the Speaker

5th Commonwealth Youth Parliament - London, UK - December 2012

The Norfolk Island Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (the CPA) was invited, by CPA UK Branch and the CPA Secretariat (the organisers), in honour of Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, to nominate one or two young people to represent our Legislature at the 5^th Commonwealth Youth Parliament (CYP) in London, United Kingdom, 4 – 8 December 2012.  The 5^th Commonwealth Youth Parliament will offer all CYPs a wonderful opportunity to debate topical issues facing the Commonwealth and show how their generation might approach parliamentary politics.

I am delighted to advise that Miss Chelsea Evans has been successful in gaining a place.

Expressions of interest were called for through Your Parliament Your Voice over two editions and as is this Office’s usual practice, we also contacted Norfolk Island’s young people who we knew to be residing in England or Europe at this time. Regrettably those we contacted were unable to attend due to work and other commitments.

Miss Evans was the only applicant, and earlier this week I was delighted to hear that not only had Chelsea been successful in the selection process to attend this prestigious gathering; but also that her travel and accommodation expenses are to be met by CPA Headquarters! Miss Evans is a 21 year old university student who has had experience working from time to time at our Legislature as part of the Assembly support staff team and has a keen interest in parliamentary, cultural and Island affairs.  She is currently completing the last semester studying a Bachelor of Arts Degree at Griffith University on the Gold Coast, majoring in Sociology and Social Enterprise. She is also, by invitation, an applicant for the School of Humanities Honours Program at Griffith University for 2013.

I am very pleased that once again Norfolk Island has secured a place for one of our young people to attend another international activity organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (London); a body which is renowned for its encouragement and support to youth. I offer Chelsea Evans my warmest congratulations on being selected to represent Norfolk Island and know that she will be an excellent ambassador for our Island. Chelsea will have the opportunity to meet young people from all around the Commonwealth of Nations who share a similar passion for governance and parliamentary process in their respective homelands.

October sitting of the Legislative Assembly

The Legislative Assembly met on Wednesday 17 October 2012 at 10 am and concluded at 3.55 pm with a lunch break from 12.55 pm to 2.30 pm

The House rose for a period of silence to acknowledge the passing of Moyna Irene Craig and George Roslyn Quintal.

Answers were provided both to questions without notice and on notice and the following papers were tabled:

1)            Speaker – Report under Section 12(11) of the Legislative Assembly (Register of Members’ Interest) Act 2004

2)            Minister Tourism, Industry & Development – Gaming Licence to Norfolk Island Interactive Pty Ltd

3)            Minister Tourism, Industry & Development  -  Gaming Licence to Norfolk Island Interactive Pty Ltd

4)            Chief Minister -  Report under Legal Aid Act 1995

         Motion by Mr King - THAT the paper be noted. Debate adjourned to a subsequent day of sitting

5)            Chief Minister -  Annual Report of the NI Public Service Board - Motion by Mr King - THAT the paper be noted. Debate adjourned to a subsequent day of sitting

6)            Chief Minister -  Policy paper titled Policies to improve Immigration in NI

         Motion by Mrs Ward - THAT the paper be noted

         Motion by Mrs Griffiths – That debate be adjourned to a subsequent day of sitting – agreed

7)            Minister Tourism, Industry & Development - Exposure Draft Marine Safety Bill

The following statements were made:

1)            Chief Minister advised that Officers from the National Audit Office were to visit NI next week

2)            Chief Minister advised of the monitoring of cash reserves

3)            Mrs Griffiths gave an update on the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians funding success for a mentoring project for Pacific Women Parliamentarians

Message 32 from the Administrator was reported advising that on 9 October 2012 he declared his assent to the Wills Act 2012 (Act No 8 of 2012) and the Tourist Accommodation (Amendment) Act 2012 (Act No 9 of 2012)

Outcomes from matters on the programme were as follows:

1)            The motion moved by Mr King to note the interim report, Codes of Conduct Inquiry compiled by Mr R J Cahill dated 31 May 2012 and tabled by the Chief Minister on 19 September 2012 was debated and agreed to

2)            The Land Valuation Bill 2012 and the Goods and Services Tax (Amendment No. 2) Bill 2012 were presented and adjourned respectively on the question – That the Bill be agreed to in principle

3)            The Customs (Amendment) Bill 2012 was agreed to

The Legislative Assembly will sit again on 21 November 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 19 October 2012 and posted on the blog site http://yourparliamentyourvoice.blogspot.com.

Press Statement 115/12 from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat

“Your Parliament – Your Voice”

From the Office of the Speaker

As readers are aware Norfolk Island CPA Branch has entered into a parliamentary partnership with the Pacific Island of Niue and negotiations are currently underway for a visit in the near future of Speaker Levi and Clerk Moka Tano to Norfolk. We have just received a press release from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat advising that Niue will access US$4,000,000 for a significant solar power initiative.  See the press release below.  I send warm congratulations to Niue for achieving this great outcome for their Island nation.

PRESS STATEMENT 115/12 from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat

The remote island nation of Niue will access US$4,000,000 from the Pacific Environment Community (PEC) Fund for a significant national solar power initiative. he Government of Niue’s project for the “Design, Manufacture & Installation of Solar Power Grid Connected Generators & Battery Backed Power Stabilizer” anticipates annual savings of NZ$137,000 and a reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions by approximately 329 tonnes per annum.

“I would like to congratulate the Government of Niue for their successful application to the PEC Fund and commend them for their commitment to pursuing renewable energy avenues, as outlined in the Niue Environmental Declaration 2007,” said the Officer-In-Charge of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Mr Su’a Kevin Thomsen. The Government of Niue will administer the project with technical assistance from the Niue Power Corporation and installation assistance from the Niue private sector.

“Our project will complement ongoing efforts to increase renewable energy supply through a target of supplying 65% of the peak load, which will result in a 15.4% contribution to Niue’s total electricity supply from solar power,” explained Mr Paul Johnson, Niue’s Coordinator for the project.

Renewable energy currently accounts for 10.6% of the nation’s peak load, 2% of the total electricity production, 2% reduction in fuel consumption and a reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 48.6tons per year. “A 200 kWp solar photovoltaic system (PV) will be installed directly to Niue’s national electricity grid, at Tuila” said Mr Johnson. “We will also install a battery bank to ensure an uninterrupted power supply that will stabilise the grid and allow for the installation of additional solar generators for the future.”

The Niue Environmental Declaration 2007 commits to pursuing a 100% renewable energy economy.  “I wish the Government of Niue the very best in their endeavours to successfully implement their PEC Fund project,” said Mr Thomsen.

The PEC Fund is a commitment by the Government of Japan to provide ¥6.8billion (approximately US$66 million) to Forum Island Countries to tackle environmental issues. Each FIC is provided with an indicative allocation of USD$4million to support projects with a focus on the provision of solar power generation systems and seawater desalination plants or a combination of both. The fund is administered by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

To date, the Governments of Samoa, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, Nauru, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati and now Niue have successfully accessed the PEC Fund for national renewable energy and seawater desalination projects.”

From the Office of the Speaker 28 September 2012

“Your Parliament – Your Voice”

From the Office of the Speaker

5^th Commonwealth Youth Parliament – Invitation to the Norfolk Island Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (the CPA)

In the past two editions of Your Parliament Your Voice we have sought nominations from our youth aged 18 – 29 years to be considered for possible inclusion into the 5^th Commonwealth Youth Parliament (CYP) that is being organised by CPA United Kingdom Branch and the CPA Secretariat in London in honour of Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The CYP will be held in London from 4 – 8 December 2012. We received only one expression of interest, which we have forwarded to the organisers by the deadline date given.  We look forward to hearing whether our nominee has been successful in gaining a place and whether our grant application to fund the attendance, of our nominee has been approved.  Final approval is given with regard to the candidate’s suitability, but they also ensure that the event will have regional and gender balance. We are looking forward to receiving more information on this wonderful opportunity in due course. 

“Norfolk Island and the Isle of Man strengthen historical ties: From Mutiny to Unity” …..

is the heading of a three page article written by me as Speaker that is shortly to be published in the CPA Quarterly Journal “The Parliamentarian”.  Readers will recall a question being placed on the Notice Paper for the sitting of the Legislative Assembly last week asking me to report to the House and the community on the tangible benefits that have flowed from longstanding twinning partnerships like Mosman, Sydney and other relationships like that with the Isle of Man?  The article which will circulate in all parliaments in the 54 Commonwealth countries will give Norfolk Island very high exposure.  I look forward to being able to reprint the article for the community to view as soon as it is released publicly.

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 28 September 2012 and posted on the blog site http://yourparliamentyourvoice.blogspot.com.