Anne Webster (Mallee, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to support this bill, the Norfolk Island Amendment (Supreme Court) Bill 2020, which makes technical amendments to provisions of the Norfolk Island Act 1979, dealing with the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island. The amendments contained in the bill, as well as previous amendments made in 2018, are about enhancing the effective administration of the Norfolk Island justice system. More broadly, they are about improving governance arrangements on the territory, ensuring that Norfolk Island can move forward with solid foundations and providing the same opportunities to the local community that are enjoyed by every Australian.

Over many years the federal government, through the work of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories, and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications have been working closely with the inhabitants of Norfolk Island to improve the operation of the island for the benefit of the local community. As the new chair of the national capital and external territories committee, I am eager to continue supporting Australia's external territories, including Norfolk Island, Christmas Island and the Australian Antarctic Territory, to make life easier for locals and improve the operation of these territories. In recent years the national capital and external territories committee and the department have conducted outstanding work that has led to a number of significant quality-of-life changes for the functioning of Norfolk Island, its local businesses and its residents.

The Norfolk Island Act 1979 established the island as a self-governing external territory. Since that time the need for reform has been hotly debated, with several reports and reviews on governance arrangements and economic development on Norfolk Island completed by the national capital and external territories committee and the department of infrastructure and regional development. The problem with the arrangements established in 1979 was that the Norfolk Island government was required to deliver all local, state and many federal services, including health care, immigration and infrastructure investment. The island's roads were deteriorating, the hospital was outdated and the electricity network was at risk of collapse. It was unreasonable to expect such a small and remote community to deliver these services effectively.

In 2014, the then Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Jamie Briggs, restated the Commonwealth government's intention to integrate the Norfolk Island community into the broader governance, taxation and welfare system of Australia. What followed was a process of integration that led to a complete transformation of the governance arrangements of Norfolk Island. A report by the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories titled Same country: different world—the future of Norfolk Island formed the basis of this transformation. In light of a significant economic downturn and a considerable budget deficit, this report was commissioned to discover means to broaden the island's economic base and its tourist offerings.

In 2013, it was found that economic activity was down 24 per cent on the previous year, approximately 40 per cent of shops had closed and swathes of the population were leaving the island for mainland Australia or New Zealand. Despite its original remit, the report found that economic development was simply not possible without the establishment of new governance arrangements on the island. It found that governance and economic reform must occur together to give the community the best chance at recovery and sustainability.

Just over one year later, the Same country: different world report was followed by a package of bills that reformed the governance arrangements of the island and extended many of mainland Australia's social security, immigration, health and taxation arrangements. The passage of this package of bills meant that, from 1 July 2016, the Norfolk Island community had access to social security and health benefits, including the age pension, family tax benefits, Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

From July 2016, federal taxes replaced a range of inefficient taxes and charges that were levied by the Norfolk Island government, including a local goods and services tax and punitive customs charges. The Commonwealth government also extended the superannuation guarantee to Norfolk Island, helping residents to save for their retirement. The package of bills also transitioned the Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly to a regional council, in line with recommendations by the National Capital and External Territories committee, and allowed for a gradual adoption of New South Wales state laws within Norfolk Island, providing a modern body of state law through which the island's economic recovery could be ensured. Finally, the package allowed the Australian migration system to replace the immigration arrangements maintained by the local government. These immigration arrangements were identified as a key barrier to tourism and trade. Simplifying travel arrangements has allowed the island's key tourism industry to flourish once more.

These changes aim to deliver growth and prosperity for Norfolk island while also protecting its unique cultural identity and heritage. They ensure that Norfolk Islanders have access to the same opportunities and support as mainland Australians. Such supports have been crucial to the island during the coronavirus pandemic. Despite its geographic isolation, Norfolk Island has not eluded the impacts of coronavirus. Although the island has been virus free, it has faced strict restrictions. In March, non-essential visits were banned after the local government placed the territory in a state of emergency to protect its elderly population against the spread of the virus. For the tiny island nestled in the Pacific Ocean with a population of close to 1,800, the lockdowns hit hard. While mainland Australians were panic buying toilet paper and pasta, Norfolk Island was suffering a real food shortage due to disruptions in regular shipments. In April, heightened fears led to the introduction of rules to stop people leaving their homes, because some residents recently returned from the mainland were flouting quarantine measures. By May, lockdown measures had eased, and patrons were once again allowed to dine in cafes, restaurants and clubs as well as gather in groups. These restrictions hurt the key tourism and hospitality industries of the island, but many locals saw the validity of the restrictions, given that Australia's winter is an off-peak period for the tourism industry and due to the island's limited healthcare services.

JobKeeper data for the month of April shows that there were 143 applications made for the program on Norfolk Island. Furthermore, 92 people received the JobSeeker payment in the month of May. For an island which is almost entirely reliant on tourism, these federal government supports have helped to limit devastating impacts on the local economy.

In my role as Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories, I look forward to the continuing of the Commonwealth government's constructive engagement with the Norfolk Island community. I can't wait to learn more about the island's unique culture and history, and I hope to visit the island when restrictions have been lifted and it is once again safe to do so.

The national capital and external territories committee has completed fantastic work over the years, including an economic development and governance report on Australia's Indian Ocean territories, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands; an inquiry into Australia's Antarctic Territory that made several recommendations to government on how best to serve Australia's scientific program and maintain our national interests in the Antarctic; and, most recently, an inquiry into Canberra's national institutions. The final report, titled Telling Australia's story—and why it's important, struck a chord with me as a student of our nation's history. The report considers the shared value of Canberra's national institutions in conserving, interpreting and facilitating engagement with Australia's history, culture and national identity. It recommends that Canberra's national institutions develop and articulate a shared identity that directly connects them with Australia's story. I look forward to working with my parliamentary colleagues in the national capital and external territories committee, ensuring sustainability and progress for these important parts of our nation.

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