Zed Seselja (ACT, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Finance, Charities and Electoral Matters) Share this | Hansard source

I want to thank all senators who have participated in the debate on the Norfolk Island Amendment (Supreme Court) Bill 2020. This bill makes technical amendments to provisions of the Norfolk Island Act 1979 dealing with the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island. Amendments made to the act in 2018 authorised the Supreme Court to sit in a state or territory other than Norfolk Island in the exercise of its civil and criminal jurisdiction. These amendments allowed for a matter to be heard and a jury to be empanelled in another state or territory. The measures were modelled on similar amendments made for Christmas Island in 1987. The amendments in the bill address some technical issues regarding regulation of off-island sittings of the Supreme Court. These amendments also clarify the basis under which travelling allowances are determined for its judges. These amendments will enhance the effective administration of the Norfolk Island justice system.

As a senator for the ACT and as the senator representing Norfolk Island, I want to put on record, for those Australians who haven't visited Norfolk Island, what a stunningly beautiful place it is and also what an extraordinary community it is. Norfolk Islanders are proud of their history. They are proud of their very unique place in history. They are also a very community minded, family oriented and self-reliant, can-do community who, it must be said, have faced significant challenges right throughout their history. Indeed, we saw some challenges during the transition that Senator Pratt was referring to in her remarks. But I want to put on record that I know this has been a difficult time and that the isolation is being felt more than usual during this COVID period. I very much look forward to the opportunity to be there again in the not-too-distant future. They are, as I said, community minded, family minded, self-reliant and can-do. Can I make particular reference also to the fact that there is great pride on the island in the contribution that Norfolk Islanders have made to the defence of Australia through various conflicts. I want to pay tribute to all of those veterans on the island as well.

With those words, I again thank senators for their contributions and for their support for this bill, and I commend the bill to the Senate.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.