Appendix 7
Attachment F to Submission 43 received from
the Hon Grant Tambling
GRANT TAMBLING
9/08/2007
LIST OF NORFOLK
ISLAND RECOMMENDATIONS
1.
The Department of Transport & Regional Services be required to
develop a Strategic Plan against which government issues pertaining to Norfolk
Island – including Norfolk Island Government requests for federal funding and
assistance – can be assessed and coordinated.
2.
The Department of Transport & Regional Services be proactive and be
required to analyse and report to federal Ministers periodically on the Norfolk
Island Government's performance in critical areas of asset, budgetary and
financial management. Data is available, but no comparative and critical
analysis is apparent in areas crucial to management of the Australian
Government's contingent risks and liabilities in Norfolk Island.
3.
Following the next Federal election, portfolio responsibility for External
Territories be transferred to the Special Minister of State (or the Minister
holding responsibility for Commonwealth-State Financial Relations).
4.
The Australian Government assume full and complete responsibility for
all Customs, Quarantine & Immigration functions. The Norfolk Island system
of residential and entry permits be abolished.
5.
The Australian Government act to extend to Norfolk Island the following
federal laws which the Norfolk Island Government agreed in 2006 could extend to
the Island: corporations, financial services, trade practices, bankruptcy,
census & statistics, and food standards.
6.
The Australian Public Service Commissioner extend support to the Norfolk
Island Administration, particularly in regard to management systems.
7.
The Australian Government act promptly to ensure that the NSW
Independent Commission Against Corruption or its Queensland equivalent assumes
jurisdiction to respond to complaints of corruption on Norfolk Island –
particularly those involving NI Ministers. This will not happen if left to the
Norfolk Island Government. The service delivery and application of laws regime
for the Jervis Bay Territory and the Indian Ocean Territories provide ample
precedent for such a federal initiative.
8.
The Australian Government act to require the Office of the Commonwealth
Ombudsman to operate on Norfolk Island, with powers to investigate the Norfolk
Island Administration and GBEs.
9.
The Joint Parliamentary Standing Committee (National Capital &
External Territories) be given a special reference on vulnerabilities in the
provision of Health & Welfare Services on Norfolk Island.
10. Current
Memorandums of Understanding (KAVHA, Policing, Legal Aid, Education) be
replaced with contemporary Intergovernmental Financial Agreements. Replacement
of the KAVHA MOU must be subject to recommendation 13 below.
11. Federal
loans and direct grants to the Norfolk Island Government be tied to outcomes in
governance and financial reform.
12. The
Norfolk Island Government be required to privatise all GBEs (including Norfolk
Air).
13. The
Australian Government review the administrative and management arrangements for
the Kingston and Arthur's Vale Historic Area [KAVHA] as soon as its proposed
world heritage listing is resolved. The review must have two aims; to
consolidate and streamline the competing and ineffectual land and heritage
management arrangements applying to this small area and to ensure effective
Australian Government oversight and involvement in its management and
conservation.
14. Once world
heritage listing is resolved, responsibility for KAVHA and Commonwealth land
with KAVHA be transferred from Department of Transport & Regional Services
to the Department of Environment & Water Resources or Parks Australia.
15. Tourism Australia
be required to give priority consideration to tourism support for Norfolk
Island.
16. All Norfolk
Island residents holding Australian citizenship currently registered on the Norfolk
Island (Legislative Assembly) Electoral Roll be also transferred to an
Australian electorate – and compelled to vote in Federal Government elections.
Norfolk Island has an affinity
with the Lord Howe Island community and faces similar issues as that Island
community. There could be merit in Norfolk Island being including in the same
federal electorate as Lord Howe Island and having the same federal Members and
Senators to speak on its behalf.
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