Norfolk Island flies the flag Internationally!

Norfolk Island is in the news and its flag flying high around the globe …..

“Norfolk Island becomes first nation to hoist flag at Village” was the heading to a media release received from New Delhi last Tuesday where our 33-member Commonwealth Games delegation were reported to have “clapped and swayed to the tunes of bhangra and fusion music played by students of a city school in their honour.”. The press release went on to say “The delegation, comprising 22 athletes, had moved into the Village on Sunday. The members were today out strolling in the hot sun to get a feel of the entire 63.5 hectare area of the campus….”. Well done Norfolk.

Norfolk Island has a voice at the 56^th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference held in Nairobi Kenya

The Norfolk flag was also proudly displayed by the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Mr Lisle Snell MLA, who represented Norfolk Island at the 56^th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference held two weeks ago in Nairobi Kenya. Our photo shows the Deputy Speaker during one of the plenary sessions. On the opposite page is part 1 of a News Release issued by CPA Headquarters in London at the conclusion of the CPA Conference. We will conclude the press release in next week’s Your Parliament Your Voice along with a Report by Deputy Speaker Snell on his participation at the plenary conference and at the Small Nations Conference.

National Police Remembrance Day

On Wednesday 29 September 2010 the Chief Minister, the Hon David Buffett AM MLA, and I, as the Speaker, attended the National Police Remembrance Day Service which was held at 10 am in All Saints Church at Kingston. A very moving service was conducted under the guidance of the Reverend Canon Stuart Broughton. Warm words of welcome and remembrance were spoken, hymns of inspiration were sung and prayers were read, including The Police Prayer read by the Chief Minister; and the poem I Am (Remembrance) read by Mr George Smith AM, former Chief Minister & Minister for Police in the Norfolk Island Government.

Territories Law Reform Bill 2010 (Commonwealth)

Norfolk Island is in the news in Canberra – this time in the Commonwealth of Australia Parliament – where on 29 September 2010 the Federal Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon Simon Crean MP, tabled the Territories Law Reform Bill 2010 in the Federal Parliament. Readers will recall that this Bill, which was on referral to the Australian Senate, lapsed with the double dissolution of the Federal Parliament earlier this year. Debate on the Bill stands adjourned. For Hansard of debate on the Bill when introduced go to http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/reps/dailys/dr290910.pdf.

The Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Water is the leader of the Nationals in the Senate; Senator Barnaby Joyce. He replaces Hon Bruce Bilson who was the Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Tourism in the previous opposition government. Hon Bruce Bilson is now Shadow Minister for Small Business, Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs.

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 1 October 2010 and posted on the blog site http://yourparliamentyourvoice.blogspot.com/

Assembly documents can now be accessed on www.info.gov.nf

September sitting of the Legislative Assembly

“Your Parliament – Your Voice”
From the Office of the Speaker

The following is a summary of some of the matters dealt with at the sitting of the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday 22 September 2010:

• Answers were provided to the majority of the 21 Questions on Notice.
• A number of papers were tabled including an exposure draft of the Norfolk Island Government Tourist Bureau (Amendment) Bill 2010 and explanatory memorandum. The explanatory memorandum reads –

The intent of this Bill is to change the organisation structure of the Norfolk Island Government Tourist Bureau as established under the Norfolk Island Government Tourist Bureau Act 1980. The revised structure will resemble that established for the Norfolk Island Hospital Enterprise under the Norfolk Island Hospital Act 1985. To that end the Norfolk Island Government Tourist Bureau will retain its name and corporate identity but the powers (including employment) of the Bureau and day to day management of Bureau activities will be exercised by a general manager. There will be an Advisory Board, of 5 persons nominated by the executive member in accordance with a resolution of the Legislative Assembly (two of whom may be nominated by a recognised association). These members will hold office for 3 years and may be re-appointed. The executive member will appoint the chairperson. The general manager will be appointed by the executive member on the recommendation of the Advisory Board. The NIGTB Advisory Board will act in relation to the Bureau in the same way as does the Hospital Advisory Board to the Hospital Enterprise. The Advisory Board will be a source of advice on strategy and direction regarding the Bureau and development of the tourism industry.

Copies of the exposure draft of this Bill and Explanatory Memorandum are available from Mrs. Jan Keeping in the Legal Services Unit at the Norfolk Island Administration or on www.info.gov.nf under Legislative Assembly Exposure Drafts of Bills.

• Several statements were made by Ministers of the Norfolk Island Government and they can be found elsewhere in Norfolk Online.
• The transfer of one tourist accommodation unit from the tourist accommodation house known as “Cumberland Resort and Spa” to portion Lot 49 Mountbatten Park was approved subject to prescribed conditions
• Approval was given for exemption of payment of customs duty by Banyan Park Play Centre for playground equipment and by Norfolk Island Amateur Sports and Commonwealth Games Association for uniforms for the Commonwealth Games Team
• The House approved the re-appointment to the Norfolk Island Museum Trust of Owen Edward John Walsh for the period 23 September 2010 to 22 September 2012
• The motion moved by Mr. King that the House rescind its order made on 28 July 2010 was agreed
• The Chief Minister at the 28 July 2010 sitting of the House tabled a draft determination of Organisational Structure of the Public Service under the Public Sector Management Act 2000. The House agreed the making of the new Organisational Structure.
• At the 28 July 2010 sitting of the House a letter dated 15 July 2010 from Minister Anderson to Hon Brendon O’Connor MP re Norfolk Island Government Budget 2010-2011 was tabled by Minister Anderson and a motion – That the House take note of the paper and the paper be endorsed – was moved and adjourned by Mr. King. The motion was subsequently passed at the sitting this week.

Our Commonwealth Games contingent leaves on the weekend for New Delhi India where they will represent Norfolk at the Commonwealth Games there. Our Minister for Community Services, the Hon. Tim Sheridan MLA, will represent Norfolk in lawn bowls.

Issued from the Office of the Speaker on 24 September 2010 and posted on the blog site http://yourparliamentyourvoice.blogspot.com/

Assemby documents can be accessed on www.info.gov.nf

Ceremonial Sitting to welcome the Queen's Baton

Her Majesty the Queen’s Baton was to arrive on Norfolk Island from Tuvalu via Brisbane and Sydney on the afternoon of Wednesday 02 June 2010 and depart our shores on Saturday, 5 June 2010 en route for Singapore. As part of the Queen’s Baton Relay the Baton was to be received into the Legislative Assembly Chamber at a Ceremonial Sitting on Thursday 03 June 2010 at 9.30 am.

Unfortunately there was a delay and the Queen's Baton did not arrive on Norfolk Island until late in the afternoon of Friday 04 June 2010, which did not allow any time for the Ceremonial Sitting to take place as planned. The delay being due to its departure from Tuvalu having to be rerouted through Fiji and Melbourne.

The Minister for Community Services with executive responsibility for sport, the Hon Tim Sheridan MLA welcomed the Queen's Baton to Norfolk.