The Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly was the prime legislative body of Norfolk Island from 1979 to 2015. Formed after the Norfolk Island Act 1979 was passed in the Australian Parliament, its first members were elected on 10 August 1979.[1] The last assembly was the 14th, elected on 13 March 2013.[2][3] On 17 June 2015, the Australian Government abolished the assembly, ending self-government on the island. Norfolk Island Regional Council, a local government body instituted under New South Wales law and with significantly-restricted powers, was established in July 2016 to perform local-level governance on the island.
Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 10 August 1979 |
| Disbanded | 17 June 2015 |
| Preceded by | Norfolk Island Council |
| Succeeded by | Norfolk Island Regional Council |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 9 |
Political groups | Independent (8) Liberal (1) |
| Meeting place | |
| Old Military Barracks, Quality Row, Kingston, Norfolk Island, South Pacific | |
Membership
editThe Assembly had 9 members, elected for a three-year term. The Assembly was elected by a popular vote for a term of not more than three years. Electors each had nine equal votes, which could be divided in any way between candidates, but no more than two votes could be given to any particular individual candidate. This variation of cumulative voting is called the "weighted first past the post system".
All nine seats were held by independents, as Norfolk Island did not have major political parties. However, a local branch of the Australian Labor Party was active.
On 20 March 2013, the first meeting of the 14th Legislative Assembly elected Chief Minister, Speaker and Deputy Speaker:[4]
- Lisle Snell – Chief Minister
- Robin Adams – Minister for Cultural Heritage and Community Services
- Ronald John Ward – Minister for Environment
- Timothy John Sheridan – Minister for Finance
- Melissa Ward
- David Buffett AM – Speaker
- David Raymond Porter
- Ronald Coane Nobbs – Deputy Speaker
- Hadyn Paul Evans
Abolition
editIn March 2015, the Australian government announced that the Assembly would be replaced with a regional council, as part of a plan to bring the governance of Norfolk Island into line with the rest of Australia.[5] A five-person Community Advisory Council would be set up to manage the transition, with Chief Minister Snell and Speaker Buffett being invited to be members.[6]
In 2014, Snell travelled to Canberra to argue against a complete change to the arrangements governing the island. He did not oppose the island joining Australia's tax and welfare system, but maintained that it should retain similar powers to a state or territory government.[7]
Snell's overtures and a non-binding referendum held on the island were unsuccessful, and the Assembly met for the last time on 17 June 2015.
After a transition period of more than a year, local government power was officially returned to Norfolk Island with the establishment of the Norfolk Island Regional Council on 1 July 2016, with the Commonwealth continuing to govern the island for all but local-level matters.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Assembly". Norfolk.gov.nf. Archived from the original on 13 November 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
- ^ "Members". Norfolk.gov.nf. 28 March 2007. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
- ^ "Election 2010". Election.gov.nf. Archived from the original on 21 June 2010. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
- ^ "INAUGURAL SITTING OF THE FOURTEENTH LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY and ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW NORFOLK ISLAND 14th ASSEMBLY MINISTERS". norfolkonlinenews.com. 20 March 2013. Archived from the original on 21 July 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- ^ Medhora, Shalailah (19 March 2015). "Norfolk Island self-government to be replaced by local council". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
- ^ Briggs, Jamie. "Delivering a stronger and more prosperous Norfolk Island". Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development. Australian Government. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
- ^ Glenday, James (19 March 2015). "Norfolk Island residents to pay income tax, parliament will be replaced by local council under Cabinet plan". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 19 March 2015.