Message to Norfolk Islanders from Senator David Pocock

Hello Norfolk Islanders

It was great to see so many of you in July and planning for my next visit in early November is well underway.

In the meantime, I wanted to provide an update on what’s been happening in the Senate and share some news I have received from Australia Post.

Recently, I had the opportunity to add my condolences in the Senate to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Rather than just share my own stories, I asked the community to share some of theirs with me.

Reading the responses, I was reminded how long Her Late Majesty served. Over 70 years, she witnessed people land on the moon, she saw the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the birth of the internet and worked with 16 Australian prime ministers!

I want to recognise the stories that came from Norfolk Island. I read some truly beautiful accounts of Her Late Majesty’s visit to Norfolk Island, including the case of a Norfolk umbrella making its way back to the Palace following the trip.

In Australia, the Queen’s passing has raised some overdue conversations on reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people and communities. This is a conversation that will continue for some time, particularly as we look toward a referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. If you ever want to find out more about this, please let me know.

Clearing the backlog of sea mail

I’ve received quite a number of emails about the backlog of mail to Norfolk Island.

I recently spoke to Australia Post and received some information, which you may find useful.

Australia Post has let me know that there are some 4,400 items of sea mail still sitting in Australia.

Around half of this backlog will be delivered by the Southern Tiare this month and in November. That still leaves quite a substantial amount of mail yet to be delivered, but I have been assured that:

• Space is currently being secured on the four barges from Brisbane to Norfolk, which are set to commence in November.

• Backlog will be added to express post deliveries, where there is additional capacity available.

• Australia Post will pay for a charter flight (which was scheduled for 4 October) to deliver the remaining items.

A permanent solution for shipping and freight

While I think this is welcome news from Australia Post, it’s clearly a band-aid over a broader problem, which is the delivery of freight in general.

While I was on Norfolk Island, I was struck by all the stories I heard about shipping. There is significant expertise already on the Island that I feel clearly hasn’t been tapped into.

I had the chance to speak with Minister McBain about this, and I was pleased to learn that she has organised a Shipping Forum to make sure that this expertise is captured.

It’s my understanding that the first part of the Forum will kick off in November and will look at understanding the current problem in its entirety to inform the solution. It’s my hope to make it to the Forum to participate as an observer, so I can help make sure that reforms stay on track.

Local decision-making on Norfolk Island

I get asked regularly about what can be done to restore democracy on Norfolk Island.

From my first visit, I was shocked to hear that the community had not been consulted on a number of decisions that impacted the community.

I want to be clear: I believe all communities should have a say in the decisions that impact where they live and where they work.

The Minister has told me that the Legislative Assembly will not be reconstituted. However, she has also assured me that administration of the NIRC will end, as scheduled, after which time elections will again be held.

I want to help make sure that this commitment is delivered and that Norfolk Islanders can make decisions around planning, land management and services.

I still have a lot to learn about Norfolk Island, which is why I hope to get back soon for the Shipping Forum. I also hope to meet with those that I didn’t get a chance to see last time.

Thank you everyone for your emails and letters. While I know sometimes we have been slow to reply given the sheer volume of correspondence from across the electorate our little team is managing, I have appreciated being kept in the loop on the issues, which helps me to have those conversations with the Government when I’m in Parliament.

Sincerely

David