CAN YOU HELP NORFOLK ISLANDERS?

It’s with a heavy heart I write, still going on about the toll the current invasion that’s occurring on the peoples of Norfolk Island by the Australian Federal Government (AFG) and their Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.( DITRDC) is inflicting. But write I will, because someone needs to help!

This week I have again spoken to an Islander who is at his lowest point, contemplating having to sell his family land due to the recent pressure of introduced Land rates. The week before, it was a man's distress for he was already selling family land. Then at a recent meeting on the topic, people haven’t paid a cent since its inception because it’s just wrong, their forebears would be rolling in their graves. Recently the councils talking of employing the services of debt collectors! Tell me you can’t hear the trauma this rate, tax, fee, is having, call it what makes you most comfortable; but realise its outcome is the same. Someone’s got to realise the absurdity of this tax, it’s implications on a people’s culture, their mental and physical well-being !

Land Rates was introduced as an NI Act in 2012/14 under pressure applied to the Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly (NILA) by the Australian Federal Government (AFG), in exchange for financial assistance following the GFC. Noted in the then Minister for Finance, Mr Tim Sheridans Media Release dated , 8th May 2013. An inclusion of a document called the “Road Map” which was supposed to help NI retain financial viability once introduced. The Act arose but was never enacted by the NILA due to the cultural significance of land heritage to the Norfolk Islanders of Pitcairn Descent.

The AFG was/ is only ever supposed to administer good Governance for the people of Norfolk Island so they may have lived with their laws , customs and cultures intact.

AFG have always had final say on all governance decisions made on NI. They could have at all times supported good Governance via financial aid without invasion, without stripping the Island of its limited self-Governance.

But abolish NI’s autonomy they did, blanket NSW laws and legislation to introduce a Regional Council they did, introduce Land rates they have.

Stipulating how many Millions had to be raised from its inception in 2016 land rates raises around 3% of NIRC’s income, other Regional Councils in Australia this sits at 38% to make it a viable contribution.

Australian land rates go towards services such as waste management, local roads, suburban care, services and infrastructure.

NI land rates go towards parks, reserves, tourism marketing and roads.

Land of Norfolk Islanders of Pitcairn Descent has been handed down through families since Norfolk was gifted to the Bounty Mutineer descendants of Pitcairn. Culturally land is not for profit, but to be lived off, cared for and handed down the generations ( In Perpetuity for the quit rent of one pepper corn of ever called for by the crown). Land is part of the indigeneity of the Norfolk Islander.

Land rates is pricing the people off their land , forcing them out of their home!

The Bounty Mutineers left England in 1787, the same year the convicts left England for Australia. Norfolk Islanders of Pitcairn descent and white Australian history is as long as each other’s.

Those reading this may not have been alive when First Nations Peoples of Australia had their land stolen from them, but you definitely are now as it’s happening to Norfolk Islanders. Forceable removal is just that, whether by pen or by gun, the trauma will end up the same.

CAN YOU HELP NORFOLK ISLANDERS ?

Simply , yes, jump on Norfolk Island People for Democracy (NIPD) website or Facebook page and tell us you support this issue.

Write to your Federal and State Government representatives letting them know you don’t support their actions here, actions that are pricing people off their land.

Thank you, my heart breaks with yorley as you face losing your cultural heritage of ukluns hoem, ukluns land.

YOU CAN HELP NORFOLK ISLANDERS, BUT WILL YOU ?

With Respect,

Tane Cottle.