Following my announcement last month about the Australian Government’s funding for the continuation of CSIRO’s Norfolk Island Water Resources Assessment (NIWRA) project, I am pleased to confirm the project’s expansion to include water quality investigation.

I am pleased to announce the Australian Government is commencing roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine program to Norfolk Island.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications is working with the Department of Health to finalise arrangements for the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine program. This includes working with vaccine logistics partners to ensure cold chain management and secure supply.

The continued availability of sea freight to Norfolk Island remains a key priority for the Australian Government, with progress continuing on the proposal for a temporary landing structure at Cascade alongside work on broader measures to address pressures on freight services and infrastructure now and into the future.

The Australian Government has now received the detailed designs for the temporary groyne, or landing structure, and is continuing to work towards approvals. The landing structure is intended to unlock vital additional sea freight capacity for Norfolk Island.

I am pleased to announce the Australian Government is extending its agreement with Air New Zealand for the delivery of air services to and from Norfolk Island for two years with flights resuming on 30 August 2021 and running until 27 August 2023.

Ensuring reliable passenger air services for Norfolk Island remains a key priority for the Australian Government, and I am delighted that the extension of Air New Zealand’s services provides the community with certainty on this matter.

In response to ongoing shortages of some essential supplies on Norfolk Island, the Australian Government is providing a number of Toll air freight flights over the coming weeks to address critical animal welfare and food needs.

There are shortages of stock feed, milk and other items critical for food production on Norfolk Island due to shortfalls in the amount of sea freight which is being shipped to the island.

Ensuring the effective governance of the Norfolk Island Health and Residential Aged Care Service (NIHRACS) is important for the delivery of best-practice, fit-for-purpose health and aged care services on Norfolk Island.

To strengthen the existing governance arrangements for NIHRACS, the Australian Government is establishing an Advisory Council to oversee the management and operation of the health and aged care service and to ensure we are best meeting the needs and requirements of the Norfolk Island community.

Progress continues on the important Kingston Pier Channel Construction project, with design Option 3A currently being finalised and environmental approvals prepared.

The selection of Option 3A followed extensive consultation with the community and key stakeholders throughout last year, with the detailed (80 per cent) design presented to the community in November. Advisian Pty Ltd provided an overview of the investigations undertaken to inform the design, with consultation via telephone and online interviews due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19. 

Norfolk Island Health and Residential Aged Care Service (NIHRACS) will continue to deliver essential health and residential aged care services to Norfolk Island after the current agreement with New South Wales (NSW) ceases and new arrangements are put in place.

I am pleased to announce the Australian Government is funding CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, to continue the Norfolk Island Water Resources Assessment (NIWRA) monitoring program and undertake a number of associated studies.

The Australian Government is continuing its support of Norfolk Island’s vocational education and training (VET) students through expansion of the Norfolk Island VET Financial Assistance Initiative (Initiative).

Since commencing in January 2019, the Initiative has made it easier for Norfolk Island residents studying a VET qualification to pay tuition fees, through reimbursing the difference in course fees incurred with what a resident student of the state or territory of their institution would pay.