British MPs call on Australia to review its actions in Norfolk

Transcript

ANDREW ROSINDELL: Well we have been in Norfolk Island for the past three to four days and we have had the privilege of touring the island visiting local people. Visiting the school the hospital, meeting locally elected representatives. And also meeting the administrator of the island and local people in general to. To see what is going on and to assess the situation.

KOROI HAWKINS: And what is your verdict?

AR: I am very surprised really because I look at New Zealand and how successful New Zealand has been in ensuring that its territories, Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau etc are looked after and they have their local rights to make their own decisions. The Cook Islands is a great example of a territory that wants to continue to have free association with New Zealand that they make their own local decisions and I am baffled, I don't know why Australia has seen the need to essentially close down the democracy of Norfolk Island. I understand they need help but Britain has lots of territories and dependencies and we help them to be sustainable we don't close down their elected parliaments and assemblies. We look after them and work with them in a co-operative way. So I am baffled and I think Australia does need to answer a lot more questions. We leave very sad because the Norfolk Island people seem to us to be deeply hurt at what has happened and I do think there needs to be a review and I do appeal to Canberra to rethink what they are doing here.

KH: Did you put any of that to the (Australian) administrator on the island, what was his response?

AR: Well he rejects almost everything we say. You know he repeats the idea that Norfolk Island is a part of Australia but I find it hard to understand that because it is an external territory it is not, it has never been a part of the commonwealth it has never had the same status within Australia that say Queensland has or Tasmania has. And equally so as New Zealand and Britain we both have territories and dependencies which are not integrated into either New Zealand or the United Kingdom and I think Norfolk Island has a similar status and I mean for instance last night we came to a public meeting there were three or four hundred people there. You know this is thirty odd percent of the island population turning out to a public meeting and you know this is 30 odd percent of the island population turning out to a public meeting and I have met people that have been in tears. People that are worried about their future. And you know I love Australia I think Australia is a great country, I am chairman of the Australia friendship group in the British parliament. I don't want to say anything against Australia because you know they are our best friends along with New Zealand but this seems to me to be a misjudgement and very sad because the Norfolk Island people are the kindest most gentle folk that I have ever come across and they simply want to defend their culture their heritage and their right to self-governance and yes Australia should help of course they should. But they should do it in a consensual way, not imposing things against the wishes of the people.

KH: Just going forward, what are, are there going to be any actions from this for your group of MPs that are there?

AR: Well there's three MPs that are visiting there are two conservative and one labour we are a cross party delegation. We are going to consider, how, what we have found here, this is an initial delegation there may be further delegations certainly there will be issues we will need to raise with the Australian High Commissioner when we get back to London and the Australian government. Issues with our own government because of course it was the United Kingdom that entrusted Australia to protect Norfolk Island, to give them administrative powers in Norfolk Island and you know it is a worrying situation. And so I mean yes I think it is our duty to go back and to continue to take and interest and to try and help as much as we can. I think that, I hope in any case that Australia notes what we have done and why we have come here. I mean look I will be honest with you we are British MPs and we have constituencies back home we have huge issues in our own country particularly after Brexit where we are leaving the EU you know so for us to spend our time to come here you know has been a huge commitment and we have done it because we are fearful of the implications of this and Australia's reputation as a democracy upholding freedom and liberty is very important. But equally so protecting people of British descent who now live and have always lived peacefully and happily in Norfolk Island their homeland and I think something needs to be done to rectify things and if Britain can help in some way to try to get things back on track working with Australia and the Norfolk Island people. Then we are happy to be of service because we share a common heritage.