Norfolk Islanders say no to Aussies

Descendants are from Bounty’s mutineers

Descendants of the HMS Bounty mutineers are mounting a last- ditch battle to prevent the loss of self- rule on their remote Pacific island and instead be governed by Australia.

Norfolk Island, where the families of Fletcher Christian’s mutineers settled, has been selfgoverning for 36 years, but has struggled following a downturn in tourism. It owes about $ 11 million to the Australian government.

The move to abolish the parliament of the territory has caused divisions among the 1,800- odd islanders, half of whom are descendants of British sailors and their Tahitian wives.

The families have led the resistance, accusing Tony Abbott, the Australian prime minister, of “colonialism.”

The island’s staunchly monarchist residents last year expressed anger at Canberra’s demand that they stop using God Save the Queen as its anthem and instead sing Advance Australia Fair.

Something has to change ... this is the first step.

But the tiny island of 34 square kilometres, about 1,600 kilometres northeast of Sydney, is effectively bankrupt and relies on loans from Australia, which now wants to force the population to pay Australian federal taxes in return for health and welfare benefits.

Legislation to scrap the island’s parliament has been endorsed by the federal cabinet and will be introduced to parliament next week.

The government said desperate measures were needed to improve the “diabolical” conditions on the island, including road and health services which have been severely run down and outdated.

“Something has to change ... this is the first step,” said Jamie Briggs, the minister responsible for the island.

The move was denounced by Lisle Snell, the island’s chief minister, who wants the territory to join the federal tax and welfare system but to retain its own parliament. He said the Abbott government’s plan should be put to a referendum.