1 Jul 2015

Norfolk Island push for self determination

4:48 pm on 1 July 2015

A Norfolk Island group has launched a campaign today to seek United Nations support for its push for self determination for the island.

Norfolk Island Coat of Arms

Norfolk Island Coat of Arms Photo: None

It coincides with an Australian Government appointed Advisory Council taking over the running the island after the Norfolk Legislature was abolished.

The group, Norfolk Island People for Democracy, includes the island's last four chief ministers, the president of the council of elders and other community leaders.

Andre Nobbs, who was chief minister from 2007 to 2010, says for years they have sought a collaborative relationship with Canberra but this has been ignored.

He says the island must have a proper, democratic say and this is why they want inclusion on the UN's list of Non Self-Governing Territories.

"What the process does enable is a full educational and informed process, and most importantly, a democratic process that involves the people in determining how the future will operated in terms of their governance and linkages to other countries."

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