Norfolk Island’s problems are its alone
While there are lingering “colonial” problems on both the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island, please do not put these two into the same basket as the fractious Norfolk Island situation!
I visited Norfolk Island exactly one year ago, and I am somewhat familiar with its issues.
I can only speak about the Cocos Islands, having lived there, having learned Cocos Malay and having written a book about the islands, their history and culture. It is so very, very different from Norfolk Island!
Cocos’ major issue is the lack of a vote at state level. Almost all the islands’ services are delivered from WA, yet the islanders (the Cocos Malay population) do not have a vote in WA. All they have is a federal vote in Lingiari, NT, where the issues are vastly different from island ones!
Plus when the 1984 Self-Determination deal was done, the Cocos Malay village houses came under a “leasehold” arrangement, whereas the settlement on West Island received a “freehold” arrangement. The Cocos Malay people can never own their own houses. They will pay rent forever. The mainlanders on West Island can buy and sell their real estate whenever they choose.
Nothing like Norfolk Island.
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