Why Norfolk Islanders Say Australia Betrayed Them

No visitor to Norfolk Island would miss the green hand symbol. One town block is covered in these symbols of opposition to what the locals see as the Australian Government’s takeover of their island in 2016. As far as they were concerned, Queen Victoria had given the Pitcairners Norfolk Island in perpetuity.

The sign reads:

• Stop your misrepresentation of our history, culture and traditions
• Return the assets and land you stole in 2016
• Respect our right to determine our future and restore democracy on Norfolk Island – NOW
• Halt your racism against the indigenous Norfolk people
• Honour the legal obligation to the UN to decolonise Norfolk Island

Norfolk Island had its own legislative assembly and operated with a high degree of autonomy under the Norfolk Island Act 1979. This included control over immigration, health, education, and taxation. Locals saw this as recognition of their unique history, particularly the island’s settlement by descendants of the Bounty mutineers from Pitcairn Island.

Over time, Norfolk Island’s government struggled to provide adequate services and infrastructure. Its economy, reliant on tourism and duty-free trade, suffered due to remoteness and high costs. The island ran persistent budget deficits and relied increasingly on federal financial assistance.

Throughout the 2000s and early 2010s, the Assembly repeatedly requested financial assistance from the Australian government due to mounting economic challenges—particularly falling tourism revenue, a shrinking tax base, and difficulties maintaining essential services. The Assembly acknowledged it couldn’t sustain services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure on its own.

However, what the Norfolk Island government sought was targeted financial support and partnership, not the dismantling of its self-government. The Legislative Assembly consistently wanted to retain autonomy while gaining access to national programs and funding—essentially, a bespoke deal that preserved local control but offered economic lifelines.

Instead, after multiple reviews, including the key 2014 Joint Standing Committee report, the Australian government concluded that the model of self-governance itself was no longer viable. In their view, full integration into the Australian system was necessary for equitable service delivery and financial accountability.

So while the Assembly asked for help, what they got was abolition of their legislature, the imposition of mainland laws, and governance through an externally appointed administrator and local council—a move many locals saw as a betrayal rather than assistance. Norfolk became subject to New South Wales law (administered by a regional council) and residents began paying Australian taxes in exchange for access to national services.

Many Norfolk Islanders saw the change as colonial overreach and a dismissal of their distinct identity and history. A strong local protest movement argued the island’s rights had been trampled and called for a return to self-government or even independence. Some appealed to the United Nations, claiming their right to self-determination had been ignored.

In short, while the Australian government viewed the reforms as necessary to ensure sustainable governance and equality of services, many islanders felt it was an imposed takeover that ignored their wishes and heritage.

It would be fair to argue that Norfolk was never part of Australia. When the Pitcairners arrived, all the convicts and staff from the second colony were removed, leaving the new arrivals to get on with it. And in 2016 they were swept up into Australian bureaucracy. That meant they received education, health benefits, and pensions the same as in Australia. But they had to pay income tax.

Those who don’t live in one of Australia’s big cities are forced to endure regulations that simply don’t suit. On Norfolk, the dairy herd was replaced with beef cattle. The regulations insisted milk had to be pasteurised but Norfolk Is too small to be able to afford a pasteurisation plant. So milk is now imported from New Zealand at great expense. And of course, the cheese industry died.

Sometimes the locals find ways around the rules. On a visit to Birdsville in outback Queensland our guide explained that the influx of visitors for the Birdsville Cup (a horse race) puts a strain on the town resources, especially the rubbish tip. The burning of rubbish is forbidden (OH&S) but as it happens the Birdsville tip seems to be struck by lightning every Wednesday at 2pm. Act of God, know what I mean?

Regulations say that every large event like a concert must have trained security guards in attendance. That’s a bit hard in tiny outback communities trying to raise money for charities or fixing the church roof. The profits are gone before the band starts up.

Etc.

Surely there’s a better way to leave some room for small communities to survive without the burden of big city bureaucracies. We seem to give a lot of money to places in the South Pacific. Why can’t we help support Norfolk Island in the same way? It’s not part of Australia and never was.

This is the fifth post for this trip. If you missed anything, pick up the whole journey here.

If you’re into cozy mystery, come over to Substack and read my review of the Lady Hardcastle mysteries – move over Miss Marple.

If you’re looking for a nice cozy mystery or several to read, Move over Miss Marple is my review of the Lady Hardcastle series. Well worth a look.