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MAYORS UPDATE KEEPING THE COMMUNITY INFORMED BUILDING TOMORROW’S COMMUNITIES ‘”Building Tomorrow’s Communities” was the theme of the National General Assembly of Local Government that the General Manager and I attended in Canberra 18 to 21 June along with some 800 delegates – Mayors, General Managers and Councillors – from Councils all around Australia,’ Mayor Adams said, ‘The General Assembly was preceded on the Sunday by the Regional Cooperation and Development Forum, the theme for the Forum being “Pillars of Regional Growth”. The government address on the Sunday was provided by Senator the Hon Fiona Nash (Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories and Regional Communications) who gave a warm welcome to Norfolk Island. Over the three and a half days there was intense discussion, panel sessions and presentations on a wide range of topics including - developing smart cities, building tomorrow’s communities, why social media is the new Town Hall, governance in a digital age, e-government – the list goes on. I was particularly interested to listen to addresses from a number of federal politicians including the Hon Bill Shorten MP (Leader of the Opposition); Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion (Minister for Indigenous Affairs), the Hon Michael Keenan (Minister for Justice), the Hon Angus Taylor (Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation), and Shadow Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government Mr Stephen Jones. ‘It was a pleasure to catch up with the Christmas Island contingent who visited Norfolk in 2015 who were joined by our former Chief of Staff, David Price, who is now CEO of the Shire of Christmas Island,’ Mayor Adams said, ‘It was also good to meet up with Graeme Faulkner, a former CEO of the Norfolk Island Administration, who is now General Manager of Lithgow Council.’ VISIT OF UNITED STATES CONSUL GENERAL ‘It was a pleasure to meet the United States Consul General Valerie Fowler who with her husband CAPT Charles W. Fowler III, U.S. Navy (Ret). made a four day visit to the Island arriving last Friday. She and I enjoyed a quiet chat over a cup of tea at the Council Chambers on Monday which allowed for meaningful broad ranging discussion about Norfolk – past, present and future,’ the Mayor said, ‘They left Monday hoping they will be able to return to Norfolk.’ The Consulate General in Sydney is the oldest American Foreign Service post in Australia. The first American Consul was appointed in 1836, providing for more than 180 years of diplomatic relations between our two great nations. The Sydney Consular District includes the States of New South Wales and Queensland and also includes Norfolk Island. MEETING WITH SENIOR DELEGATES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET Councillors and the senior executive team of Council met yesterday morning for two hours with senior delegates Lin Hatfield Dodds and Janet Stodulka from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C). We were joined by Administrator Hutchinson and his executive Officer Kassandra Peacock. They are meeting with a broad range of stakeholders while they are here, their mission being to gain understanding on the needs and interests of Norfolk Islanders as part of their key role in advising Government on social policy. The discussions with Council were broad ranging and Council took the opportunity to clearly identify the gaps and cracks that currently exist in the community as a result of the transition into the Australian Taxation and Social Welfare system, in particular, for pensioners with large land holdings. Council accepted the offer to provide documented evidence of areas of concern to the community. T: (+6723) 22444 | W: www.norfolkisland.gov.nf MAYORS UPDATE KEEPING THE COMMUNITY INFORMED JUNE MEETING OF COUNCIL Outcomes from the meeting of Council on 28 June are published elsewhere. 2016 CENSUS DATA SEMINARS TO BE HELD ON NORFOLK ISLAND. When: Sunday 2 July 2017 2pm to 5 pm – afternoon tea provided Monday 3 July 2017 9 am to 12 pm – morning tea provided Where: Paradise Hotel & Resort Come along and find out what the Census data reveals about Norfolk Island. Robin Adams MAYOR 30 June 2017 T: (+6723) 22444 | W: www.norfolkisland.gov.nf .
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