Norfolk Islanders hit back at Australia over ‘land grab’

Norfolk Islanders are staging a modern day rebellion which is threatening to spiral into an all-out war with Australia.

Descendants of the infamous HMS Bounty mutineers are staging a modern day rebellion which is threatening to spiral into an all-out war with the Australian federal government over its “land grab” for their island home.

The indigenous Norfolk Islanders say they have had enough of the “tyranny, lies and wrongdoing” and they are taking back their island.

The islanders say the federal government has no lawful or legal jurisdiction on the South Pacific outcrop, and they are running their own government and courts under their own Constitution.

The new Norf'k Ailen (sic) Government has made rulings about the unlawful court sittings on the island: Picture Supplied.

And a little known Royal Warrant signed in December 1856 by Queen Victoria uncovered by the islanders, they say, gives them the proof they are an independent sovereign nation.

Trouble has been brewing since the federal government’s takeover in 2016 after the island requested a top-up of funds after the GFC hit their tourism industry.

Australia and Norfolk Island are at odds. Picture: Liam Kidston

A financial bailout came with strings attached, including being brought into the Australian tax and welfare system. But many of the islanders say they never agreed or signed off on the changes.

Newly elected magistrate and governor Leah Honeywood, a seventh-generation descendant from two Bounty families, warned the Australian law courts need to cease and desist and stop harassing islanders or face prosecution under laws of what they call in their local language – Norf’k Ailen

“We will not allow any foreign country or government to preside over Norf’k’ Eilen (sic),” Ms Honeywood said.

slanders say they are taking back their island. Picture: Liam Kidston

Islanders claim they’ve been hit with taxes that never previously existed on the island, including exorbitant land taxes which some cannot and will not pay, waste removal fees for properties – that don’t need it or from which islanders already do their own removal – and sky high energy bills. One lifetime resident said he is now using a generator for electricity.

“The Australian Government was shown that the local GST that we had here was not only a fairer system … it raised over $6 million a year, far more than the rates ever could. But they have chosen to ignore that option,” Ms Honeywood said.

Norfolk Islanders claim they’ve been hit with taxes that never previously existed on the island. Picture: Liam Kidston

They also claim they are being subjected to heavy-handed policing and intimidation with surges of Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers being sent to the island. In September the AFP sent seven officers to control peaceful protests led by Ms Honeywood and others.

A police officer on Norfolk island donned a helmet just before islanders were pepper sprayed. Photo supplied

In another case, Boxing Day revellers were pepper-sprayed in the face by a senior AFP officer. An internal police investigation found the Sergeant at the scene had acted without justification. No penalty was ever revealed but Sergeant Elder left the island.

An AFP spokeswoman said they received a number of complaints regarding a use of force incident on Norfolk Island .

She said an investigation established a finding against one AFP officer for breaching the AFP Code of Conduct and he received appropriate sanctions.

“Additional police officers are deployed to Norfolk Island and other domestic and external territories as required to support police activities.”

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Ms Honeywood says she had no choice but to step in to protect the Island residents from the usurping of the laws of the Pitcairn descendants.

Norfolk islanders trying to decontaminate each other after being pepper sprayed by Australian Federal Police. Picture: Supplied

In a series of blistering letters to judicial figures, Ms Honeywood revealed she had received a string of complaints about the courts acting in a “racist, condescending, unprofessional,” way.

Ms Honeywood has already overturned decisions by an Australian court she dubbed a “star chamber” putting her on a collision course with the authorities.

“They are breaching our constitution and usurping our laws and government,” Ms Honeywood said.

“I realise I could be arrested as the island’s first political prisoner, but I know I have the lawful right and legal documents behind me.”

Newly elected magistrate and governor Leah Honeywood warned the Australian law courts need to cease and desist and stop harassing islanders or face prosecution. Picture: Liam Kidston

Norfolk Island, which is halfway between Australia and New Zealand was first a penal colony and then given to the crew of the Bounty and Tahitian wives in 1856 by Queens Victoria after their population grew.

In 1914 the colony was made territory of the Australia but the precise constitutional relationship and the dismissal of the Pitcairn Constitution, the islanders lived under, was never agreed and that’s the subject of the islander’s challenge.

In 1979 the islanders were given the right to limited self-govern and they supported themselves through revenue from tourism and a local GST system.

Norfolk Island have staged protests on Norfolk Island. Picture: Liam Kidston

But in 2016, the islanders say the federal government illegally “recolonised” the island. An elected Council was established only to be sacked in 2021. An administrator is now running the island.

Ms Honeywood has requested the Council effect an amicable handover but said it is encouraged but not expected.

A parliamentary inquiry held into governance on the island recommended in December a new democratically-elected governing body to restore democracy.

The islanders say the Australian federal government illegally “recolonised” the island in 2016. Picture: Liam Kidston

Former Acting chief Minister and Island Administrator Jon Stanhope said the lack of democracy on the island is stunningly hypocritical.

But one respected island elder, Albert Fletcher Buffett, with human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson, has taken the case for the right to self-govern to the United Nations.

Norfolk Islander Gaelene Nobbs-Quintal said land rates are a massive issue and burden for all islanders.

Democracy protest artwork, Norfolk Island. Picture: Liam Kidston

“The land doesn’t belong to Australia. It belongs to us. We hold it for our kids. We don’t consider it an asset,” said Ms Nobbs-Quintal.

She said people had been forced to sell their land and islanders can no longer afford to keep up tax payments.

“How are you supposed to pay?” she said. “We see this as a land grab to run us off our land …”

A lifetime islander, Phil, has six blocks of family and a mounting $30,000 tax bill he refuses to pay.

“I did write a letter to these aliens and asked if I was to amalgamate all the land would I still have to pay the rates?” he said.

Originally published as Norfolk Islanders hit back at Australia over ‘land grab’