Anger over gazetting

gazetting of Norfolk Island law

Following a visit to Norfolk Island by the Australian Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances, Norfolk Islanders held hopes that the unloved Companies Ordinance 1971 might be amended by the Commonwealth Government before being introduced.

But hopes were dashed on June 30 when the Norfolk Island Gazette announced that the ordinance had been promulgated—just in time for the new financial year.

A draft of the Companies Ordi nance had earlier been rejected by the Norfolk Island Council and there has been strong opposition to it on many grounds, but particularly be cause it gives the Commonwealth Government powers to have solici tors reveal confidential company in formation, and to require companies registered on Norfolk Island to dis close much of their background. The ordinance had been widely interpreted as being an attempt by the Common wealth Taxation Department to obtain information that will enable it to restrict the island as a tax haven— a view which the Minister for Ter ritories has denied firmly.

There is at present no taxation on Norfolk Island, which is an Aus tralian territory. (For full background details, see June, PIM, pp. 9, 16).

The sudden gazetting of the ordinance on June 30 caused a wave of protest on the island, which is likely to have strong repercussions, particularly as a High Court case is pending to test the extent of Com monwealth authority on Norfolk.