Number: A61/2019
Relevant: Christmas Island
Date: 20 August 2019
On Tuesday 27 August, we will welcome the Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories, the Hon Nola Marino MP, to Christmas Island (CI) for the first time.
The Assistant Minister will see our beautiful and diverse island first hand, including our incredible National Park. She will meet with a wide range of community members, visit important projects including the Mine to Plant Enterprises Project (MINTOPE), view local infrastructure and services, and is expected to make a number of important announcements with a focus on community and tourism.
She will be officially welcomed to CI at a community reception at the Tea Garden. An invitation is extended to all residents of CI to join in the celebrations, which will showcase our unique cultural diversity and heritage.
The Assistant Minister is looking forward to announcing the CI community infrastructure projects to receive funding from the $500,000 provided to the Indian Ocean Territories Regional Development Organisation (IOTRDO) in the 2019-20 Federal Budget. She will hear directly from you about the issues that are most important to you, and is committed to delivering your vision outlined in the Our Christmas Island 2030 Strategic Plan PDF: 3816 KB.
She intends to visit the Cocos (Keeling) Islands (CKI) in September, and I will provide further information about her plans on CKI in coming weeks.
The Assistant Minister was appointed to the Regional Development and Territories portfolio in May, and has been the Federal Member for the Western Australian regional seat of Forrest since November 2007. In 2015, she was the first woman to be appointed as Chief Government Whip, and I had the pleasure of working with her during my time in Parliament. She is well known for her dedication to regional communities, something to which we can all relate. I am sure you will join me in making her most welcome on her first visit to CI.
In 2019-20 the Australian Government is investing $114 million in the Indian Ocean Territories as part of our commitment to ensuring our communities have access to services comparable to other similar Australian communities. For more information about Australian Government services in our community, please visit www.regional.gov.au/territories/indian_ocean/ or email indianoceanterritories@infrastructure.gov.au.
Mrs Natasha Griggs
Administrator of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands