Population, immigration and sustainability
23 August 2024
The Royal Geographical Society of Queensland, established in 1885 and still enjoying Royal patronage, visited Norfolk Island from 15-20 August on a fact-finding expedition. A group of 20 or was briefed by many Island identities, including David Buffett, President of the Council of Elders, the Administrator, George Plant who generously hosted a morning tea, Snow Taverner, Dr Chris Nobbs, Chris Lang, Amanda King and Lisle Snell, among many others.
A particularly notable event was a public meeting on population, immigration and sustainability convened at the Knowledge and Learning Centre on the morning of Tuesday 20 August. More than 20 Island people turned up. There has been some backchat about this event so a report to the Island is in order.
It was originally intended that their Norfolk Island Regional Council would brief the meeting on the Strategic Plan, demographic statistics and the issues that guide Council in administering control of subdivision and new development. However, after the advertisement was lodged, the Council withdrew its expected attendance which left the organisers without expert advice on demographics, in particular.
There has been some social media backchat to the effect that the Geographical Society was not in a position to give advice to the Island after only four days of its knowledge-gathering tour. The opposite criticism has also been heard: that the meeting did not hear about their observations from the Geographical Society, as had been expected. Both criticisms can’t be true at the one time.
The first criticism is untrue. The Geographical Society was never going to make the mistake of disrespecting the Islanders’ knowledge, or their competence to run their affairs. The Geographical Society members were all of mature judgement and led by their curiosity and willingness to learn.
The second criticism, that we didn’t hear of their observations, is partly valid. After a formal presentation on limiting environmental factors (which I will summarise in a subsequent article) and a thoroughly informative general discussion from Island people, time ran out before we could hear responses from the visitors. However, notes were taken on the day and the leaders have undertaken to provide a briefing paper in due course. This will be posted on the website of the KLC when it arrives.
After a short comfort break, the meeting then received a presentation from Rebekah Gupte on the work of the Sustainability Hub and the value of a food processing capability to improve the food security and seasonal range of produce.
The Knowledge and Learning Centre is very grateful to the Island people who attended and stimulated a discussion on economic issues that the visitors wouldn’t have heard otherwise. We hope that you won’t be disappointed that the meeting didn’t quite turn out as planned.
Geoff Edwards
Interim Secretary
Knowledge and Learning Centre
23 August 2024