At a Glance

First Term Wins

Holding the Norfolk Island Regional Council Administration to account

The Norfolk Island Regional Council has been suspended since 2021, with a fly in - fly out administrator governing and making decisions without community involvement. I have used the Senate Estimates process to seek transparency for the community about expenditure and other decision making. I’ve sought answers to 49 questions - on issues ranging from environmental protection, council travel expenditure, management of Kingston and Arthurs Vale Heritage Area, the use of the island’s exclusive economic zone and the offshoring of local jobs. 

Electricity rebates extended to Norfolk Island

When the government rolled out their Energy Bill Relief Fund, which provided $500 to households and $650 to businesses to pay for their electricity, it quickly became clear that they had not made arrangements for Norfolk Island - even though the cost of electricity is very high. I advocated hard, and the government eventually extended the rebate. 

What I’m Fighting For

Norfolk’s right to genuine democracy

Norfolk Island suffers from a serious democratic deficit. The community’s only current elected representatives are their federal representatives in the ACT - where many Norfolk Islanders have never even visited. State-level services are provided by Queensland through a Commonwealth contract, but they have no representation there. Additionally, with the local council under administration, Norfolk Islanders have no local representation.

The vast majority of Norfolk Islanders would like to see a return to partial self-government as an external territory, full self-government in free association with Australia or a bespoke governance model with some state and commonwealth-type responsibilities. I commit to defending the right of the Norfolk Island community to choose their future.

Full transparency and accountability

With the local council under administration, the fly-in fly-out administrators have no democratic accountability to the community. I will continue to use every transparency lever at my disposal to seek accountability on the council’s decision making and expenditure. 

An end to offshoring and outsourcing of local jobs and contracts

The Norfolk Island Regional Council has regularly used businesses in Australia to do jobs that Norfolk Island residents should be doing, often at greater expense. This is having an impact on the economy, the use and development of local skillsets, the quality of the work and its relevance to the community. I have pushed for the Council and the Commonwealth to employ local people and businesses wherever possible, and I will continue to do so. 

Genuine respect for the distinctive culture and heritage of Norfolk Islanders

Norfolk Islanders of Pitcairn descent have a distinctive language and cultural heritage that needs to be genuinely recognised, supported and nurtured. They have a deep sense of belonging to the island and its unique environment, species and oceans. Norfolk Island is their homeland, and I will continue to fight for their right for it to be recognised as such. 

Sustainable population management to protect Norfolk Island’s unique environment

Norfolk Island has a total area of 35 square kilometres and is home to 116 species of bird, many of which are not found anywhere else in the world. It supports a rich, unique and biodiverse marine ecosystem. Natural resources such as water are limited. The island is only able to support a small population without causing harm to the environment. 

I will back Norfolk Islander’s calls for a sustainable population management plan that keeps the population of the island within safe ecological limits and protects islanders’ way of life, while respecting the right of all Norfolk Islanders to reside in their homeland. The current management proposed by the Australian government involves zoning and subdivision limitations -  but this risks forcing up house prices, locking young islanders out of the market in favour of Australian retirees. I will oppose this method, and push for an evidence based approach to preserving Norfolk for future generations of Norfolk Islanders.