A Modern Mutiny documentary on SBS: Norfolk Island doesn’t want to join Australia

MEET the tiny island which is having kittens over becoming part of Australia. When Norfolk Island got into trouble it called on us for help but they had an interesting demand.

MEET the tiny island which is having kittens over becoming part of Australia.

Norfolk Island may be stunning and a picture paradise to its residents, but it is also broke.

So when the island’s leaders called on Canberra for help, they didn’t expect what happened next.

That financial help came at a price, sparking threats of a modern day mutiny amid the abolishment of 36 years of self-rule.

Some islanders fear the lack of self-rule will impact on their way of life and spell the start of the demise of its culture and language.

The unique way of life of these islanders feature tonight on Modern Mutiny, part of the SBS documentary series Untold Australia.

The documentary reveals the financial struggle the island’s people face as they are brought closer to the mainland and how many simply don’t want to be part of it.

According to Lisle Snell who was Chief Minister of Norfolk Island between 2013- 2015, islanders consider themselves as Norfolkers first, not Australian.

Lisle Denis Snell was born on Norfolk Island and is a staunch patriot.

“While the authorities say that you are Australian, and Norfolk Island is part of Australia we will never accept that,” he said.

“Norfolk Island is a distinct territory.”

However, not all agree — the man brought the island back into mainland life has a very different view, and that is you can’t ask for help and continue to struggle.

Outsider and mainlander The Hon. Gary Hardgrave — the 37th Administrator of Norfolk Island — has been put in charge of bringing in controversial and sweeping reforms for Norfolk and to help govern this self-ruled society.

“I feel a sense of ownership of driving change here,” he said.

“We’ve identified a series of issues that need to be addressed and now I’m really busting to do something about it.”

Mr Hardgrave said it was time the mainland was brought into line with Australian standards.

“It’s the beginning of a new era,” he said.

He said the self government experiment should have been dealt with a long time ago and as it had clearly failed.

Bounty Day is among one of the most important days on Norfolk Island. Picture: David Dare Parker

His views and governance have left him the most hated man on the island, the documentary reveals, but it is something he accepts.

“You can’t force people to like their country but you have to be disappointed when people offer — as a few have unfortunately — a pretty putrid hatred of Australia,” he said.

The change of governance means the islanders will be brought into line with taxes and Medicare, but in return Norfolk Island’s self-rule will be officially be over in July this year.

FOR SELF-RULE

Mr Snell is a staunch patriot and defender of his homeland’s independence.

Speaking to news.com.au, the descendant from John (Alexander Smith) Adams — Fletcher Christian — William McCoy and Mathew Quintal — mutineers of HMAV Bounty, said many islanders wanted to remain separate from Australia.

“The principle reason for wanting to remain legally separate from Australia is so that the Norfolk Island People can have a homeland — a place where they can make laws and give priority to the things that are important to them,” he said.

“Norfolk Island has a unique history, our family history, culture, language, way of life, community spirit. Consideration for human rights and democracy. Respect for the monarchy. Respect for our elders and children.”

Bounty Day remains a celebration of culture and pride and happens on June 8 every year. Picture: David Dare Parker

He also said many islanders felt the government’s help was being imposed.

“In May 2015, the island voted overwhelmingly in support of their right to freely determine their political status, their economic social and cultural development,” he said.

“Today evidence suggests that the majority view held at that time is even stronger now that the unwelcome Australian Government “reform” process is being imposed,” he said.

AGAINST:

The government claims the change of governance will improve the island’s finances and its population has no choice but to accept it.

Mr Hardgrave agrees and for him there was no way the island could continue to self-govern and survive.

The cost of running the 35 square kilometre dot in the Pacific and former convict hellhole was way beyond its population.

In the documentary he also reveals how failing infrastructure, poor port facilities, roads and communications would all impact on the island’s future and ability to survive.

According to him, the main port built in 1700s is “dumb” and cruise ships worth potentially millions in revenue can’t even dock there.

Aaron Graham is welcomed to Norfolk Island by David Buffet on Bounty Day. Picture: David Dare Parker

He isn’t the only one to acknowledge things couldn’t continue as they were.

Speaking to the UK Telegraph in an earlier interview, Mike King who was the only Labour Party member on the island’s legislative assembly, said that the island had serious financial problems that the legislative assembly was simply too small to fix.

He added local businesses were failing, infrastructure was crumbling and tourism was down.

“There is no answer here on the island, we cannot do it alone despite many people saying that we can,” he said.

The territory was plunged into crisis after the Global Financial Crisis, but by 2012, a collapse in tourism revenue had left it insolvent.

The island allowed Canberra to take back some control in exchange for financial support.

The Australian Government pumped $40,000 dollars into Norfolk Island’s economy, but it wasn’t enough to keep it afloat.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

Norfolk Island has a population of around 1300 people and only about 600 tourists on the island at any one time.

The locals have their own language — a blend of ancient Tahitian and English — and Australian currency is used across the island.

The island was established 1856 — when it became the new home for 194 relocated Pitcairn Islanders, descendants of Fletcher Christian’s Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions.

Prior to that it was used as a penal colony and nicknamed “the hell of the Pacific.”

Opponents of Norfolk Island self-rule say without Australian government intervention it won’t survive.

HOW IT WORKS

Located 1500km off the east coast of Australia, the island remains one of Australia’s most isolated communities.

The Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly sat for the last time on June 17, 2015, bringing an end to 35 years of self-governance on the island.

The changes abolished Norfolk’s Legislative Assembly which will be replaced by a regional council broadly similar to NSW local government councils, according to AAP.

In return, islanders are, from July 1 this year, to be integrated into mainland tax and social security systems which gives them access to Medicare as well as the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

The Federal Government will deliver national functions such as immigration, biosecurity and customs.

The change also means voting becomes compulsory and everyone is in the seat of Canberra for the House of Representatives and the ACT for the Senate.

Tourism numbers on the island are restricted but some believe an increase in visitors could help its finances.

A Modern Mutiny, the second documentary in three-part series Untold Australia, airs tonight on SBS at 8.30pm.