Recently I provided advice to the community about several proposed changes to Norfolk Island legislation.

The Governor-General, General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd), made the Norfolk Island Continued Laws Amendment (2017 Measures No 1) Ordinance 2017 on 18 May 2017which will bring these changes into effect.

• Australian Government gives more control over airport management to Norfolk Island Regional Council
• The Absentee Landowners Levy will be scrapped from 2017
• Norfolk Island will be made a more attractive destination for airlines

The Australian Government has been working with the Norfolk Island Regional Council and has made several changes to Norfolk Island laws which will benefit Norfolk Island.

The Council had asked the Government for the airline and Absentee Landowners Levy changes.

The changes are:

Media release

15 September 2017

Progress continues to be made on the implementation of reforms. The Australian Government is committed to normalising the delivery of a range of services for the Norfolk Island community.

Proposed changes to prohibit ownership of firearm silencers, increase the fee unit and improve the application of the child welfare, domestic violence and a small number of other laws on Norfolk Island will be considered by the Australian Government in the coming weeks as a part of ongoing reforms and updates to Norfolk Island legislation.

Media release

17 July 2017

As part of the Australia-wide firearms amnesty, an amnesty allowing people to surrender unlicensed or unregistered firearms to the Norfolk Island Police Force (NIPF) will take place from 22 July 2017 until 30 September 2017.

During the amnesty, people won"t be prosecuted for possessing a firearm for which they don"t hold a permit or licence, or which is unregistered, if they surrender that firearm to the NIPF—no questions asked.

Media release

20 June 2017

I"m pleased to announce that a Child Wellbeing Caseworker has been engaged to support Mr Stuart Moakes in his role as Child Welfare Officer and is expected to commence from 26 June 2017.

Ms Anacela Romero comes to Norfolk Island with a strong background in social casework and the community sector from right across Australia and overseas with a diverse range of experience, having worked in the sector in New South Wales, Victoria, the Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory and Nauru.

Kingston and Arthur's Vale Historic Area (KAVHA) is an important part of Norfolk Island's past, an integral part of day to day community life in the present and brings with it many possibilities for future growth on the island. As Chair of the KAVHA Advisory Committee I"m committed to exploring the possibilities of how the community can gain the most benefit from having this wonderful site in our backyard.

I recently sought feedback about proposed changes to the laws on Norfolk Island to protect children, women and all other residents against criminal violence and other illegal acts.

Following this feedback, changes have now been made to the Child Welfare Act 2009 (NI) and the Criminal Code 2007 (NI).

These changes form part of ongoing reforms to modernise Norfolk Island laws, to enhance the wellbeing of children and their families.

Media release

17 August 2017

A new mental health legislative framework is due for introduction to Norfolk Island by the end of 2017. The new framework will modernise the island's mental health legislation and reflects the shared interest of the Australian and NSW Governments in ensuring mental health patients receive appropriate care and treatment.

The amendments will also allow agreements to be in put in place with NSW for the treatment of Norfolk Island patients who are required to be treated in NSW.