Qld govt to take over Norfolk Island services from NSW

Queensland will assume control of the provision of state services to Norfolk Island after signing a deal with the Commonwealth last week.

The Heads
of Agreement will see Queensland work with the NSW government (the current
provider of services to the Island) to develop arrangements for essential
school education delivery and health services support.

The agreement also provides for the Federal and Queensland governments to continue to consider other state services progressively over time to provide Norfolk Islanders with comparable services to similar mainland communities.

The Federal
Government has committed to fully funding all service delivery costs, ensuing no
costs are borne by Queensland.

Norfolk Island was a self-governing territory for 36 years until May 2015, when the Federal government abolished its nine-member parliament and replaced it with a local government administration – with NSW managing health and education services on the island in return for federal funding.

On 3
February 2021, Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories Nola
Marino suspended the Norfolk Island Regional Council (NIRC) for three months
and appointed Michael Colreavy as interim administrator.