Question on notice no. 257 Portfolio question number: SQ24-001581 2024-25 Supplementary budget estimates

Question on notice no. 257

Portfolio question number: SQ24-001581

2024-25 Supplementary budget estimates Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee, Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts Portfolio

Senator David Pocock: asked the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts on 19 November 2024— (1.Has the Department prepared or contributed to any document/s (including but not limited to emails, spreadsheets and power point presentations) for the Norfolk Island Governance Committee (NIGC) outlining theirs and / or the Queensland government's preferred future governance model for Norfolk Island? If so, please provide copies of those documents.

2.In relation to the NIGC workshop on 12 and 13 June held in Brisbane, please provide copies of any written outcomes of this meeting, including all minutes and notes taken by Department staff.

Answer — Please find answer attached

Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport
QUESTION ON NOTICE
Supplementary Budget Estimates 2024 - 2025
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts

Committee Question Number: 257
Departmental Question Number: SQ24-001581
Division/Agency Name: DIV - Territories
Hansard Reference: Written (19 November 2024)
Topic: Norfolk Island Governance Committee

Senator David Pocock asked:
1. Has the Department prepared or contributed to any document/s (including but not limited to emails, spreadsheets and powerpoint presentations) for the Norfolk Island Governance Committee (NIGC) outlining theirs and / or the Queensland government’s preferred future governance model for Norfolk Island? If so, please provide copies of those documents.
2. In relation to the NIGC workshop on 12 and 13 June held in Brisbane, please provide copies of any written outcomes of this meeting, including all minutes and notes taken by Department staff.

Answer:
1. On 16 May 2024, the Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, the Hon Kristy McBain MP, wrote to Mr George Plant, Chair of the NIGC, to provide guidance on the NIGC’s role in developing a bespoke model of governance for Norfolk Island by the end of June 2024. This letter has previously been provided to this Committee. It is not the role of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts to develop a preferred future governance model for Norfolk Island outside this remit. On 14 November 2024, the minister announced the Australian Government’s decision on a new, bespoke model of governance for Norfolk Island.

2. The minutes of the 12-13 June 2024 NIGC workshop are at Attachment A. An addendum to the minutes, a statement of reservation by one of the Community Representatives tabled during the meeting, is at Attachment B. This addendum was published with the NIGC’s public communique following the workshop. The communique and addendum are available on the department’s website at
https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/department/media/publications/nigc-communique-
31-may-2024-12-june-2024-and-13-june-2024.
Other documents in relation to the workshop can be found on the department’s
freedom of information (FOI) disclosure log (reference FOI 24-509) at
https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/foi24-509-documentsreleased.pdf