Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I present the report of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories entitled Current and future governance arrangements for the Indian Ocean territories. I seek leave to move a motion in relation to the report.

Leave granted.

I move:

That the Senate take note of the report.

I seek leave to incorporate a tabling statement in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The report is part of a program of inquiries that the Committee has undertaken in recent years with regard to governance and related issues in Australia’s external territories.

Past reports have addressed governance issues affecting Norfolk Island. The Committee is gratified to note that the Australian Government is acting on the recommendations of these and other reports, and is currently considering significant changes to the future governance arrangements of the Island.

In this report, we have turned our attention to pressing issues of governance and accountability confronting the Indian Ocean Territories of Christmas and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. I am pleased to advise the Senate that this is a unanimous report making thirteen recommendations.

Mr President, the evidence presented to the Committee during the course of our inquiry drew us to several conclusions. Firstly, there needs to be greater accountability and transparency in decision making by government in relation to the Indian Ocean Territories. Seemingly trivial decisions taken from a great distance in Canberra can have a disproportionately large impact upon the small and isolated communities of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The people in those territories need to know why decisions which affect their future are being taken, how those decisions are being made, and how problems will be redressed. Moreover, they need to know that their voices will be heard by governments and departments in Perth and Canberra.

Mr President, there also needs to be greater consultation between government, departments and residents in the Indian Ocean Territories. The level and quality of consultation currently depends on interpersonal relationships between islanders and departmental staff. The Committee has received evidence that those relationships have not always been effective in promoting good communications between community and government.

There needs to be a formal consultation process put in place, mandated by legislation, to bring community and government together for their mutual benefit. This is especially true of the processes surrounding the application of Western Australian laws in the Indian Ocean Territories and the implementation of service delivery arrangements.

It is self-evident that effective governance and economic sustainability go hand in hand. One cannot last long without the other. Regrettably, the Indian Ocean Territories are a prime example of the way in which ill-considered decisions can have a significant impact on small communities. The Committee believes that some reform of the system of governance is necessary to underpin economic sustainability.

Mr President, the report also makes a number of recommendations in regard to specific economic issues. The Committee has recommended that in future all Commonwealth land released for private development on Christmas Island should be sold at market rates. This is to prevent releases of free land from undermining the property market.

The Committee has also called for an investigation of the cost of sea freight to and from the territories and the abolition of customs and quarantine charges on freight travelling between the Territories and the mainland. It is hoped that this will remove imposts on economic activity.

The Committee has called for increases in the number of flights between the Territories and the mainland, and the opening of international routes, to promote tourism and increase economic activity.

Perhaps, most significantly, the Committee has recommended that the government review its decision to block the licensing of the Christmas Island Casino with a view to reissuing the licence. The Committee believes that the reopening of the Christmas Island casino would provide a significant boost to the Christmas Island economy.

Mr President, the Committee’s report also addresses wider issues of governance. The options canvassed include maintaining current governance arrangements with some refinement; incorporation of the Indian Ocean Territories into Western Australia; and some form of limited self government.

The Committee has not shown preference for any of these options. Rather, it has taken the view that the virtues and drawbacks of all should be considered by the Australian Government in conjunction with the community in the Indian Ocean Territories; and the community given the chance to make an informed decision on its own behalf as to how the Indian Ocean Territories shall be governed in the future.

Whatever alterations to the system of governance ultimately result from this inquiry, however, they should be the result of a realistic appreciation of what can be achieved.

Mr President, I would like to express, on behalf of the Committee, our gratitude to all those who participated in the inquiry and to the staff of the Secretariat. I thank my Committee colleagues for their cooperation and substantial contribution throughout the course of the inquiry.

Mr President, on behalf of the Committee I commend the report to the Senate.