Welcome Message from Administrator George Plant

I would like to thank the community for your support and encouragement since I started my new role as Administrator of Norfolk Island on 1 June.

These first few weeks have been a period of getting across the job, and gaining a better understanding of how I can best work with, and advocate for, the community as we move forward.

For those who don’t know my background, I was born and went to school here on Norfolk, and then undertook an undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in Melbourne. My first job was helping to establish the Norfolk Island National Park and getting rid of the rabbits on Phillip Island. After this, I worked with the team in the Administration forestry section to establish the native tree nursery and the reforestation projects in the national park and the Island’s reserves - fortunate to be working with islanders who showed the generational care that we share for our island home.

I have an enduring passion to live sustainably in our environment which curiously has resulted in my natural resource management work being followed by broad experience in public administration and public finance management over the past 30 years. I’ve worked in senior roles and been an advisor to governments in more than a dozen countries including Vanuatu, Tonga, Solomon Islands, the Maldives – as well as Norfolk Island. I’ve got a deep understanding of small island communities, economic reform and natural resource management. Most recently, I was the Emergency Controller for Emergency Management Norfolk Island. I am now bringing all this knowledge and experience to the role of Administrator, with a focus on Norfolk Island’s resilience and sustainability into the future.

I am genuinely optimistic about the next few years, as I believe there has never been a better time for addressing community concerns, or a greater willingness from all sides to work together on solutions to the challenges we are facing.

I have already had meetings with Minister McBain and departmental representatives about key priorities for Norfolk Island, with shipping and freight front and centre of many of those conversations. I am focused on working with all levels of government to achieve positive outcomes for the community.

For the future of Norfolk Island to be successful, projects and solutions should be designed and delivered hand-in-hand with the people who live here – something I know we all agree on.

During my time as Administrator I want to achieve better communication and engagement with locals, because I know we share a common passion for making our community thrive.

A key area where I want to see greater consultation is the future of Kingston, with the need to continue preserving the rich cultural heritage of KAVHA and managing the health of the environment. I know there are a number of opinions about the future of the site, which is such an important part of our shared culture and history.

I am excited by the fantastic work that is being done around Kingston, and the immense potential for the future of the area – something which can only be fully realised by listening and taking community views on board.

As a Norfolk Islander, I share with you a genuine love for and commitment to our home – something that will shape my time as Administrator as I represent the Australian Government here on island and advocate for community interests.

I hope that with my appointment to the role, we will see a period of increased collaboration between my office and the community. My ability to make a difference as Administrator will be driven by community engagement, so come and speak to me about the issues that are important to you - I can best achieve changes if I am hearing your voices.

I am actively looking for ways to make sure there are better lines of direct communication between us. As part of this, we are starting to build an electronic distribution to support regular communications with subscribers - if you are interested to being added to the list, contact my office with your email details, through office.administrator@infrastructure.gov.au.

I also welcome a chat in person, so please come “daun Taun” to the office if you wish to speak with myself or my team.

Thank you again, I am honoured to serve you in the role of Administrator and look forward to working with you over the years ahead, for a Norfolk Island where we all have confidence about our future.

George Plant

Administrator of Norfolk Island

June 2023