Summary of the Island’s situation
For an up-to-date opinion piece on the governance of the Island by public intellectual and resident Dr Chris Nobbs, click here.
Australian Government inquiries including Joint Standing Committee reports
See the 2004 report of the Joint Standing Committee examining departmental reports: Norfolk Island: Review of the Annual Reports of the Department of Transport and Regional Services and the Department of the Environment and Heritage. There are extensive treatments of issues of contemporary concern. Consult the webpage of the Parliament for media releases, submissions to the enquiry and the Government’s response.
Final report November 2021 of Commissioner Carolyn McNally.
Landing page of the Joint Standing Committee of Parliament 2023-2024 inquiry. The Committee’s public submissions page includes many thoughtful and highly noteworthy submissions from Island people who know a great deal about the Island’s circumstances. Read the JSC report here. See in particular the seven recommendations.
Norfolk Island Governance Committee
Early in August 2023, the Australian Government announced the establishment of a Norfolk Island Governance Committee which would include elected representatives of the Island’s population and the Australian and Queensland Governments – click here (web version) or here (pdf version) or the Committee’s website for details. This Committee is to prepare for representative democracy and advise the Australian Government on the most appropriate future institutional arrangements.
On 24 February 2024, the KLC hosted a meeting to give Island people a further opportunity to respond to the JSC report. The minutes of that meeting have been submitted to the Norfolk Island Governance Committee.
The Island’s journey from the establishment of the Norfolk Island Governance Committee in 2023
See separate page for documents dealing with Island’s governance from August 2023 other than the proceedings of the NIGC. For earlier documents, refer to the website of the Norfolk Island Historical Society.
Visions Assembly
In 2024 some of the Island’s cultural leaders took a milestone step in convening a meeting at Governor’s Lodge of peak bodies to discuss the prospect of collaborating and presenting a united position to the Australian authorities – and the Island’s population. It was agreed to establish a “Visions Assembly”, a loose collaboration that would discuss public affairs. It would remain unincorporated and not establish a formal organisational structure or office. See separate page for materials tracking its deliberations.
Principles and practice of good governance
The Queensland Government has made available copies of a number of guidelines and other documents relevant to good governance. See the dedicated page.