NORFOLK ISLAND

THE GOVERNMENT OF NORFOLK ISLAND

WELCOME TO NEW TERRITORIES MINISTER HON CATHERINE KING

Chief Minister Hon Lisle Snell on behalf of the Norfolk Island Government and the local community extends his warm congratulations to Hon Catherine King, MP newly appointed Minister for Regional Services, Local Communities & Territories who will now be the Minister responsible for Norfolk Island.

“I look forward to welcoming Ms King to Norfolk Island as soon as she is able to visit, and am confident it will be sooner rather than later,” the Chief Minister said.

“This week I have written to the new Minister offering our congratulations on her appointment and assuring her that my Government is looking forward to establishing a cooperative working relationship in continuation of the excellent working relationship we enjoyed with her predecessor Hon , MP during the past 2 years,” Mr Snell advised.

“I was also heartened to learn during the week that Hon Anthony Albanese, MP Minister for Transport and Infrastructure is to take on Cabinet responsibilities for Regional Australia and Local Government which will include any issues that need approval through Cabinet for Norfolk Island. The change of Ministers in Government I am confident will not delay the next stage of negotiations in the Road Map process, and my Ministers and I are working together to do our part in order to continue the momentum,” the Chief Minister advised.

“The other really positive initiative made public by Minister Albanese is his decision to maintain the actual Department of Regional Australia and Local Government which means that the Norfolk Island Government and its Administration will continue to work cooperatively with the Norfolk Island Team in Canberra. This is an enormous relief as when Departments are dismantled and absorbed into a new Department significant current work often takes a backward step. On this occasion that will not be the case, other than bringing the newly appointed Territories Minister, Ms King up to speed on the detail of the Norfolk Island Road Map process,” Mr Snell said.

“My Ministerial colleagues and I look forward to delivering positive changes that lead to certainty for Norfolk Island residents through cooperation with Minister King, His Honour, the Administrator and the Norfolk Island Administration in this period leading up to the Australian Budget to be announced in May, and during the next financial year,” the Chief Minister advised.

“On this positive note I take this opportunity on behalf of the Norfolk Island Government to wish ALL Norfolk Island residents and visitors to the Island a very happy, healthy and peaceful Easter,” Mr Snell said.

Lisle Snell Chief Minister

Date 27 March 2013

CONTACT : CHIEF OF STAFF , NORFOLK ISLAND LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY , OLD MILITARY BARRACKS , KINGSTON , NORFOLK ISLAND 2899 SOUTH PACIFIC. TELEPHONE : (+6723) 22003 FACSIMILE : (+6723) 23378