Norfolk island in identity crisis
p. 31 · Read in the full issue
Norfolk Island is a small (Bxs km) dot of land in the South Pacific, 1676 km north-east of Sydney and 1063 km north of Auckland.
From the top of either of two small peaks, you can see every point on the island and two islets offshore. Norfolk is an Australian terri tory administered from Canberra, with a resident population of about 1800, composed of ‘ islanders’ descended from the Bounty mutineers, and settlers who have come in recent years mainly from Australia, New Zealand and Britain. The settlers are usually either the refired or people who have businesses on the island. This per manent population is continuously being swollen by the ebb and flow of tourists, 20,000 of whom made flying visits last year. They come mainly from Australia or New Zealand to enjoy the scenic beauties of the island, or to inspect its historic buildings, or to select from an Aladdin’s treasure trove of goods offered at prices consider ably cheaper than they can get them at home. Whatever it is they have come for, they get good value, and the permanent population
is sincere in its welcome. But beneath it all, Norfolk Island is going through yet another of its many crises a crisis of identity. The Australian Parliament currently has before it a bill which aims to establish a Norfolk Island legislature with a greater say in its own a ff airs • The population is split on whether the bill goes far enough.
The bill highlights a continuing controversy on the island. Different blocs of residents see the future of Norfolk in different ways. Some want full self-government with a continuing association with Aus tralia, others press for complete integration with A ustralia including A ustralian social service payments. In short, is Norfolk to be a small chip °ff Australia, or a South Pacific island state? To help readers understand what is going on there, PI M’s publisher, Stuart Inder, who has followed Norfolk’s fortunes for the past 20 years, visited the island to compile this report on Norfolk’s history, politics and economy.