25 Jul 2018

Norfolk Islanders lose their shirts in protest

2:20 pm on 25 July 2018

Some Norfolk Islanders are staging a protest against an Australian minister who's visiting the island.

The protestors have put up a public display of shirts bearing the slogan 'Shirt4Hurt' during a two day visit by the Australian Territories Minister, John McVeigh.

Norfolk Island shirt protest

Norfolk Island shirt protest Photo: supplied

It is more than two years since Australia assumed direct control of Norfolk, ending 37 years of autonomy.

But many on Norfolk remain unhappy about the takeover with a tent vigil being maintained in the grounds of the former legislative chamber since April 2016.

Starting this month the island has been incorporated into the Australian federal wage system and business operators said this has brought distress.

Groups on the island have also sought the help of the United Nations and said the preliminary stages for listing the island as a non-self-governing territory were now complete.

They said Canberra has placed Norfolk's culture and language at risk by revoking their right to self-govern.

The protestors said the Australian government does not listen to them and that why they have chosen a visual display to demonstrate their opposition.

Norfolk Shirt4Hurt protest

Photo: supplied

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