Additional comments by Senator Andrew McLachlan CSC

1.1I thank the Chair, Secretariat and staff involved for all their work in the conduct of this inquiry and the preparation of this report. I note that all members of the committee engaged with this inquiry in a positive and bipartisan manner. The Committee has endeavoured to deliver a report and recommendations that set out a clear path for the future of Norfolk Island.

1.2Conducting public hearings on Norfolk Island was fundamental to enabling parliamentarians to develop informed perspectives on the issues facing Norfolk Islanders. Any future inquiries must likewise prioritise public hearings on Norfolk Island.

1.3I thank all the Norfolk Islanders who engaged with this inquiry and especially those who welcomed me with such generosity. I acknowledge, respect, and support the aspiration of Norfolk Islanders to have a greater level of self-governance.

1.4Norfolk Island is a distinct and separate territory and entitled to determine its own future in accordance with the aspirations of its people. It must be supported by Australia in a manner that respects all that is sacred and reverent to the Norfolk Island peoples.

1.5Australia must in all its dealings with the peoples of Norfolk Island, treat them with respect and a generosity of spirit. Australia must resist using its economic power unethically and instead negotiate with the Island as an equal, having regard to its moral obligations to support the people and respect their aspirations.

1.6Recommendation 1 provides for the development of a preamble which would recognise the culture, traditions, heritage, and history of Norfolk Island and define the nature of the relationship between Norfolk Island and Australia. Re-instituting a preamble in Commonwealth legislation is an important step in resetting the relationship between Australia and Norfolk Island. The removal of the original preamble should not have occurred in 2015 and I recognise the hurt this caused many Norfolk Islanders.

1.7I am concerned that the recommended process for settling the preamble may result in it having a lack of legitimacy in the eyes of Norfolk Islanders. Consideration should be given to drafting this document following the democratic election of the new Norfolk Island governance body, as opposed to being developed prior to this body’s inception by the Norfolk Island Governance Council. I appreciate that this may require that a second amendment be made to the Norfolk Island Act to insert the preamble, following the establishment of the new governing body, and therefore may not find favour with all parties to the process.

1.8Norfolk Islanders of Pitcairn descent are culturally, ethnically and linguistically distinct from mainland Australians. Therefore, special care must always be taken when referring to Norfolk Islander’s culture, traditions, language and connection to land. The issues facing Norfolk Islanders of Pitcairn descent in retaining family land should not be equated to issues facing mainland Australians. While every care was taken with the drafting of the report, I acknowledge some sections may be considered as culturally insensitive by some.

1.9The Committee worked diligently to ensure that Norfolk Islanders had the opportunity to have their voices heard as part of this inquiry. References to divisions within Norfolk Island communities may well be overstated having regard to the evidence that the Committee received.

Senator Andrew McLachlan CSC

Liberal Senator for South Australia