The below submission to the Australian Electoral Commission was shared with NIPD management on 28 April 2018 by John Howard (son of the late Ed Howard - former Executive Member of the Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly) and his wife Rosemary Howard who together with their son Ben have always kept the Norfolk Island People close to their hearts.
NIPD management considered that it so succinctly captured the essence of our objections in this matter that it should be made available for our wider membership and the general public to read.
“Dear Australian Electoral Commission,
We write to object to the inclusion of Norfolk Island in the proposed ACT Federal Redistribution, 2018,
In 1856, by Orders in Council, Queen Victoria declared "Norfolk Island shall be a distinct and separate settlement." We believe that specific declaration has not been altered and holds to this day.
It is therefore not appropriate to include Norfolk Island as part of any mainland Australian electorate.
Until the legality of this contention is resolved, Norfolk Island must be treated as a separate entity.
In addition, the inclusion of Norfolk Island as part of a mainland electorate does not recognise that the economic, social, cultural and regional interests of the Island are entirely different from those of any Australian electorate, and that travel from Norfolk Island to Canberra is inconvenient, time consuming and costly. Further, the physical features of Norfolk Island are unique from any part of Australia. Being located on a ridge linking New Caledonia and New Zealand, Norfolk Island was formed by volcanic activity and has never been a part of the Australian continent. Norfolk island's flora, fauna and climate are entirely different from those of Canberra.
As an aside, we note that Norfolk Island residents have no representation in the Senate and are having laws of New South Wales imposed upon them despite having no voting rights in that State.
Yours sincerely
John and Rosemary Howard
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