The Norfolk ISLANDER the World of Norfolk’S Community Newspaper for More Than 49 Years

The Norfolk ISLANDER The World of Norfolk’s Community Newspaper for more than 49 Years FOUNDED 1965 Successors to - The Norfolk Island Pioneer c. 1885 The Weekly News c 1932 : The Norfolk Island Monthly News c. 1933 The N.I. Times c. 1935 : Norfolk Island Weekly c. 1943 : N.I.N.E. c. 1949 : W.I.N. c. 1951 : Norfolk News c. 1965 Volume 49, No. 24 SATURDAY, 26th JULY 2014 Price $2.75 The ‘Friendly Games’ have begun. Last night (Thursday morning Norfolk Island time) Team Norfolk Island, along with a global audience of over a billion people celebrated the opening of the 20th Commonwealth Games. The infamous Celtic Park saw the staging of one of the biggest nights Glasgow has seen, which brought together headlining acts including Rod Stewart, Susan Boyle, and Amy McDonald and of course, the athletes and officials of the 71 Response To Submission By expressing its concern at comments made by Mr Pope Former Administrator to the Joint Standing Committee. A copy of that letter Following publication of the Submission by Mr follows. Neil Pope, former Administrator of Norfolk Island, to The Norfolk Island Government has again sought a the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital meeting with Assistant Minister Briggs to discuss all and External Territories Inquiry into Economic outstanding issues and in particular Norfolk Island’s Development in Norfolk Island, the Minister for preferred model for territory self-governance having Cultural Heritage and Community Services, the Hon regard to evidence given to the Committee by the Robin Adams acting on behalf of the Norfolk Island Department and the former Administrator and their Government in the absence of the Chief Minister recommendations as to future governance for Norfolk has written to Assistant Minister Jamie Briggs and Island. provided yet again, a copy of the Preferred Model It was reassuring that the Department’s for Territory Self Governance. Minister Adams gave Supplementary Submission to the Inquiry reaffirmed an undertaking to the community when speaking Assistant Minister Brigg’s undertaking to the Norfolk on VL2NI last Tuesday to publish a copy of the Island Government that he will consult Norfolk Island Norfolk Island Government’s letter to Minister Briggs on future governance issues as follows: (continued inside) P&RP&R Groceries Groceries PinnaclesPinnacles Takeaways Takeaways PhonePhone 23474 23474 (2FISH) (2FISH) PhonePhone 23110 23110 Sunday Sunday—Thursday—Thursday to to 9pm 9pm OpenOpen from from 4.30pm 4.30pm Try Try our our Burgers, Burgers, Local Local Fish Fish & & Chips Chips FridayFriday & & Saturday Saturday night night to to 10pm! 10pm! NowNow with with BFC. BFC. Brian’s Brian’s Crunchy Crunchy Fried Fried Chicken! Chicken! countries competing in these games. Norfolk Island has had a fantastic start to day one of In the lead up to what organisers have dubbed Glasgow 2014 with Lawn Bowl wins over South Africa the ‘friendly games’, Team Norfolk Island have in the Women’s Fours 17-13, the Women’s Singles been made extremely welcomed, and to enter the against Niue 21-12. Norfolk held a commanding lead stadium last night a member of a truly global family, for most of the match, while towards the end, the South the Commonwealth. The buildup to the Opening African Bowlers made a comeback but were unable Ceremony had created much excited in the past few to beat Norfolk’s 17-13 score. Petal Jones said this days as athletes have been practicing and training, and was a fantastic result, and a real confidence booster was incredible to finally experience it. The ceremony for the whole team so early on in the games. A tough had very much a Scottish feel, almost a festival, a few games for the Men’s Triples and were out-bowled celebration of culture and heritage. Everything from by Canada 18-11, and New Zealand 6-29. The Men’s bagpipes, highland dancers, or Scottish Terriers as Pair’s went down to Namibia 9-20, but later in the day escorts to the teams. The organisers also adopted were victorious over the Cook Islands 26-10. a theme of ‘Children First’, highlighting the many Today was also day one of our badminton players on challenges facing children across the Commonwealth, court, up against South Africa. The mixed teams group such as healthcare, food, and education. play saw Jason Quintal & Terry Gray 3/21, and 3/21, Norfolk Island marched proudly into the stadium Richard Cribb 3/21, and 2/21, Jason Quintal & Terry led by flag bear Moochie Christian, and soaked in what Gray 3/21, and 3/21, Jo Snell 5/21, and 2/21, Donohoe was truly an awe-inspiring experience. Our team of 34 & Jason Quintal 3/21, and 3/21, and a fantastic final joined the thousands of athletes and officials, foreign match with Terry Gray & Jo Snell 10/21, an 8/20. The government vips, and spectators, who’ve have made badminton team next face Jamaica. the long journey to Scotland for these games. After Day two should see another busy day for our bowlers a slight mishap with the Queen’s Baton, the message with two big games against England and Australia, was retrieved and read by The Queen to thunderous and will also see the shooting team compete for the applause as she declared these games open. first time. SATURDAY Mostly sunny. S/SE winds 05/10 knots. MONDAY Mostly cloudy. Rain at times. N/NE winds 15/20 Precis: Mostly sunny. Min: 13 Max: 17 knots. Precis: Rain at times. Min: 14 Max: 19 SUNDAY Cloud increasing. Chance of a shower or two from the late afternoon. SE/NE winds 10/15 knots. Min: 13 Max: 18 POPULATION STATISTICS - PEOPLE ON ISLAND WEEK ENDING RES GEP TEP VISITORS UEP OTHER TOTAL 19th June 2014 1320 42 82 417 214 2075 26th June 2014 1300 42 83 393 218 2036 30th June 2014 1284 40 79 401 200 2004 10th July 2014 1301 41 74 436 206 2058 17th July 2014 1299 42 75 480 217 2113 24th July 2014 1300 42 75 299 222 1938 2014 Commonwealth Games: Glassgow LIVE!! - CHANNEL 10 Response To Submission By B. Norfolk Island Government to retain State and Local Government type functions. Former Administrator C. Funding for Norfolk Island Government’s (continued from front page) delivery of public infrastructure and State and “Issue: Norfolk Island proposed models of self- Local Government type functions to be shared governance with the Commonwealth, similar to other self Norfolk view: the Australian Government has not governing jurisdictions within the federal provided comments on the Norfolk Island preferred taxation system.” models of self-governance (dating back to July 2011 Robin Adams and May 2013) and this is hindering investment in Minister for Cultural Heritage and Community Norfolk Island. Services Department comment: The Australian Government 25 July 2014 is considering reforms to governance arrangements as part of its deliberations on the election commitment to extend federal taxation and social security to Norfolk Island. The Community of Norfolk Island has been 25 July 2014 given the opportunity by the Assistant Minister Hon J Briggs, MP for Infrastructure and Regional Development, The Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Hon Jamie Briggs MP to express its views on future Regional Development governance of Norfolk Island to the Australian Parliament House Government. Assistant Minister Briggs has also CANBERRA ACT 2601 committed to further consultations with Norfolk Island on these issues.” Dear Minister The Norfolk Island Government would be pleased JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON to receive a copy of any submission provided by THE NATIONAL CAPITAL AND EXTERNAL Members of the community to Assistant Minister TERRITORIES INQUIRY INTO ECONOMIC Briggs in response to his request for views on future DEVELOPMENT IN NORFOLK ISLAND (JSC) governance for Norfolk Island. This information The Norfolk Island Government notes and is will assist the Norfolk Island Government when seriously disappointed by both the tone and content of considering the options presented to it by Assistant the Submission made by Mr Neil Pope to the JSC on Minister Briggs. Friday, 18 July 2014. The Preferred Model for Territory Self-Governance Mr Pope is an experienced former state Labor which was adopted by the 13th Legislative Assembly politician and should be taken to understand the in July 2011; re-affirmed by the 14th Legislative parliamentary inquiry processes. It is regrettable Assembly in May 2013 and published again in March that he has chosen to use the JSC Inquiry process to 2014 is repeated below. denigrate and vilify the Norfolk Island community, the hard working staff of the Administration of Norfolk “NORFOLK ISLAND GOVERNMENT’S Island, the members of the Legislative Assembly and PREFERRED MODEL FOR TERRITORY the Norfolk Island Government. SELF GOVERNANCE It is quite extraordinary that Mr Pope cites “the 1. Territory Institutions biggest drawback is the lack of trust” but does so while Current Territory institutions to remain. behaving in a manner that would vindicate a lack of trust Territory Executive comprising an Administrator in Commonwealth and Departmental intentions. It is and Ministry elected from a Territory indefensible that the former Administrator denigrated Parliament; the people of this community with his written statement Territory Legislative Assembly; that the “Island’s ... intellectual capacity leaves a lot to Territory public service or Administration; be desired.” Territory Courts and Tribunals: We consider that Mr Pope has demeaned and diminished the dignity of the Office of the 2. Territory Government responsibilities and Administrator, the Crown’s representative in Norfolk functions Island, by both his written submission and his personal A. Norfolk Island Government to transfer to presentation to the JSC. Prior to Mr Pope the position the Commonwealth any federal functions in of Administrator was one accorded dignity and accordance with the process outlined in the respect.

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