Dear Editor, thank you for the opportunity to share the Norfolk Island situation with your readers. The attached letter sent to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General identifies the ongoing misrepresentation and displacement of the Norfolk Islanders. Once the Australian Government had removed local representation, governance accountability and democracy from our island home, their next immediate actions were to commence taxing our people off their family land and simultaneously to decree that any Australian landing on the island would be declared a resident. This facilitated stampede of new Australian residents to the island has meant a population increase of 32 per cent within the past four years, environmentally, infrastructure-wise and socially destructive, unsustainable and irresponsible. (No doubt your readership can imagine the effect of a 32 per cent increase in population impacting the social and cultural fabric of Samoa). Through the sharing of the attached letter, I hope to raise awareness for the Samoan Government and people and to seek the help of your voices to progress our petition to the U.N to list Norfolk Island as a non-self-governing territory to be progressed through the universally accepted and mutually accountable self-determination process. An immediate advantage will be to bring accountability, transparency, equity and natural justice mechanisms that align to UN articles and covenants. Yours sincerely, Andre' Nobbs, former Norfolk Island Chief Minister.

André Nobbs

Former Chief Minister of Norfolk Island (NI)

26th June 2022

S.G. Henry Puna 26th June 2022

The Secretary General

Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. [email protected]

Letter from former Norfolk Island Chief Minister,

Endorsing your statement on the issues of geopolitical positioning and identifying the dire examples of what an Australian partnership has meant in terms of disempowerment, forced assimilation, misrepresentation, distress and displacement for our island people.

Dear Secretary General Mr Puna,

I write to outline the stark difference between the Australian Government Pacific engagement propaganda and the actual situation that has been imposed on the people of Norfolk Island by the Australian Government, and to support your statement “Indeed, the recent influx of high-level visits to our Blue Pacific, demonstrates the increasing value that our partners, including China, must place on our collective ability to think, live, engage and deliver, as one Blue Pacific region. Many of these partnerships are not new, but have been re-invigored in recent years, often in direct response to geo-political positioning”.

Background

• Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. Norfolk Island is ethnically and culturally distinct from Australia, the indigenous language Norf’k, has been recognised by UNESCO as an endangered language.

• Limited “self-government” arrangements were extended to Norfolk Island in 1979, these arrangements did not have ICCPR level protections, and the enacting of this Australian legislated structure enabled the Australian Government to sidestep obligations to United Nations resolutions 1514 and 1541, rather than to enable and empower the people and community of Norfolk Island.

• Although Australia maintained veto powers for Norfolk Island legislation and the island was single industry dependent (tourism) and having no access to EEZ revenues, it should be noted that the island-based governance took as much practical ownership as possible and delivered balanced finances, appropriate equitable services, taxes and good governance to the community for 30 years.

• The Australian Government took advantage of the tourism market impacts of the 2007/8 global financial crisis to firstly obstruct any financial support to the island and subsequently to leverage the critical need for financial support to remove the island government and take ownership of the island infrastructure and assets – Completely against the wishes of the island community as identified in majority referendum, petitions, and communications to the Australian Government.

• In January 2020, declassified/released Australian Government Cabinet papers from 1998 acknowledged the U.N obligation to decolonise Norfolk Island, but these documents clearly state that Australia will colonise and control the island to ensure ongoing access to exclusive economic zone (fishery/oil/mineral reserves) and to maintain Australia’s geostrategic and national security benefit within the Pacific.

The Current Situation

1. Norfolk Island is currently run as a colony from Canberra - The Australian Government removal of the island’s legislative assembly (17th June 2015) and the decision made by the Hon Nola Marino MP on the 6th of December 2021 to dismiss and prevent any elected or democratically accountable body for the equitable representation of the Island prevents accountable democracy and access to natural justice.

2. NI Petitions and protests have continued without result for the last 6 years. (e.g.“Tent Embassy”).

3. Unregulated and unplanned migration into the island, combined with land taxing rates that are not impact or equity tested continues to cause environmental degradation, disempowerment and displacement of islanders from their connection to land, heritage and family.

The Evidence versus the Propaganda

Prior to 2016 when the island had a degree of local and accountable control, we were able to boast “No unemployment!” Now that the Australian Government has forcibly removed limited self-government, the situation has devolved to a largely welfare dependent island with limited or no opportunities to input into the islands operational governance, leaving a disempowered people beaten to the point of asking for a better selection of scraps from the table, this is a disturbing reality when compared to the previous pride in our culture, work ethic, equity and initiative to meet the needs of our remote island community, while remaining connected and accountable to our island environment and people.

In September 2016 a delegation of United Kingdom (cross party) Members of Parliament visited the island to learn about the impacts of the changes imposed by the Australian Government, they were able to evidence for themselves the negative impacts to community, governance and equity. Directly following the delegation visit, an All Parties Parliamentary Group (APPG) was established with more than 20 members from the UK Houses of Parliament and the House of Lords. The APPG continues to meet regularly and has provided political support to attempt to bring accountability to the actions of the Australian Government and support to the people of Norfolk Island.

The right for Norfolk Island to be enabled a process of self-determination is supported by a multitude of national and international experts on governance, international law and human rights, I have listed a few examples below, however as you would be aware we need to exercise due caution in identifying initiatives:

• International Human Rights Lawyer – Geoffrey Robertson AO QC (Two U.N Petitions currently pending).

• International advisor on global governance – Dr Carlyle Corbin (2018 NI Self-governance assessment).

• Direct feedback from the UNHR High Commissioner during face to face meetings in UK (30/03/17).

The hypocrisy of Australian Government warnings of the perils of engagement with foreign nations is not lost on the people of Norfolk Island. The threat of a larger nation using financial or infrastructure agreements to eradicate democracy, impose measures that displace indigenous peoples, take illegal acquisition of island assets and infrastructure is not merely a threat.. in the Australian Government and Norfolk Island context it is the engagement reality with Australia that we have experienced and evidenced.

It should also be noted that From an Australian, United Kingdom and United States (AUKUS) Alliance perspective, the island has never been more destabilised than the current situation.

My suggestions and request for your assistance

• Please utilise any part of this message to reality check the many Australian Government statements.

• Please share this message with your colleagues in the Pacific Island Forums. Note that Norfolk Island has been obstructed from accessing or joining these forums since 1979 and would welcome any engagement. I am also keen to assist with further detail and contacts as required.

• Please consider visiting our island or sending a fact-finding team to evidence what I have stated above.

As a Cook Islander, you will understand the treasured connection to our Polynesian heritage, our island, our people and our commitment to our families future. You would also understand the pain when your island community and culture is continuously misrepresented by a larger nation’s propaganda machine.

With thanks and best regards,

André Nobbs

Former Chief Minister (Leader of Government) Norfolk Island 2007-2010.

Former Tourism, Industry & Development Minister. Norfolk Island 2010-2013.

Strategic Chair & Coordinator for the Regional Small Islands Forum 2012-2017.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, Management Committee 2007-2016.

Oceania Economic Development Corporation. Chief Executive Officer 2013-2018.

United Nations Association of New Zealand – Current Member.