A referendum was held in Norfolk Island on 8 May 2015, asking residents if they should have a say in determining the island's political status. The referendum was successful, although the result was non-binding.[1]
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Should the people of Norfolk Island have the right to freely determine their political status, their economic, social and cultural development and be consulted at referendum or plebiscite on the future model of governance for Norfolk Island before such changes are acted on by the Australian Parliament? | |||||||||||||||||||
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The vote was initiated by the Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly after it was announced on 19 March 2015 that self-governance for the island would be revoked by the Commonwealth and replaced by a local council, with the state of New South Wales providing services to the island.[2]
Both the Norfolk Island Labor Party and Norfolk Liberals supported a "no" vote.[3]
Result
editThe result was a clear "Yes", with 70% of voters saying Norfolk Islanders should have the right to determine their political status.[4]
Norfolk Island Chief Minister Lisle Snell said that "the referendum results blow a hole in Canberra's assertion that the reforms introduced before the Australian Parliament that propose abolishing the Legislative Assembly and Norfolk Island Parliament were overwhelmingly supported by the people of Norfolk Island".[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Stewart, John. "Norfolk Islanders divided ahead of symbolic self-governance referendum". ABC News.
- ^ Medhora, Shalailah (19 March 2015). "Norfolk Island self-government to be replaced by local council". The Guardian.
- ^ "Labor And Liberal United On Governance Reform And Rejection Of Referendum" (PDF). The Norfolk Islander. p. 48.
- ^ "Norfolk Islanders vote YES at today's Referendum" (PDF). Government of Norfolk Island. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 October 2017.
- ^ "Solid 'Yes' vote in referendum on Norfolk Island governance". Radio New Zealand. 8 May 2015.