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RNZ News
2 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
'Almost like an accident waiting to happen': 000 number out on Norfolk Island
Photo: Norfolk Government Locals on Norfolk Island remain concerned that their emergency number - 000 - is still down after two weeks. The president of the tourism association of Norfolk Island, Rael Donde said the island gets about 500 visitors each week and many won't know to call the alternative emergency number if they need help. "It's almost like an accident waiting to happen," Donde said. As an interim arrangement, police, fire and hospital have individual landline numbers to call. Text messages are being sent out daily and the alternative numbers are being played on the radio. Acting general manager of Norfolk Island Regional Council (NIRC), Philip Reid said the island had been experiencing problems with the number since early May. "NIRC is still to establish a date by which triple zero calling will be fully operational," he said. "Issues are being experienced with the dial-tone multifrequency function and connectivity to emergency services from triple-zero callers." He said the alternative numbers are shared to visitors on arrival at Norfolk Island Airport and at their accommodation. It's also available on the regional council's website and Facebook page. The alternative numbers are free of charge to call. A text on Norfolk Island with the alternative emergency numbers. Photo: Supplied Donde said it's a major risk. "Somebody passing by in a vehicle wouldn't immediately be able to recall the individual numbers that needs to be called," he said. "We just hope it can be fixed as soon as possible." Norfolk Island is a non-self-governing territory of Australia. Brett Sanderson said the number being out is a symptom of the island losing the right to self-govern in 2015 . He is part of the group, Norfolk Island People For Democracy, which is fighting to reverse the 2015 decision. In November last year, the Australian Government announced it had decided on a " new bespoke local governance model for Norfolk Island " to come into effect by the end of 2025, "with the Norfolk Island Regional Council to continue providing services until the Assembly is established". It said the new model was informed by the recommendations of the Norfolk Island Governance Committee and followed extensive community consultation. "The Norfolk Island Assembly will operate on four-year terms and comprise five elected members, including a full-time presiding officer. "It will be empowered to make local laws that support local service delivery. "The Queensland Government will continue to deliver health support services, education, apprenticeships, traineeships, and correctional services."
RNZ News
6 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Norfolk Island police say nothing untoward suspected after package washes ashore
A package with barnacles growing on it, believed to hold about 40 kilograms worth of cocaine, has washed up on a Norfolk Island beach Photo: Supplied Norfolk Island locals are shocked after a 40-kilogram package - believed to contain cocaine - washed up on one of their beaches. It was found by tourists on Tuesday afternoon at Anson Bay. Sergeant Mark Watson, the officer in charge of Norfolk Island Police Force, said the barnacle-covered package has generated quite a bit of community interest. "It appeared to contain smaller packages - so about 40 packages inside, which we believe to be cocaine and we believe it's about 40 kilograms' worth," he said. Norfolk is home to just over 2000 people, sitting between New Zealand and Australia in the South Pacific. Watson had been living on the island for years and said it's the first time he had seen anything like this. "We believe it's washed up. We don't believe there's anything untoward from Norfolk Island but investigations are continuing." He said he hadn't heard of Norfolk being used to traffic drugs to Australia. Local resident Rael Donde was just as surprised. "As far as I'm aware this has never happened before, so we're pretty shocked about this," he said. Like Sergeant Watson, she did not think Norfolk is being used as a drug transit point. "There's barnacles growing on the netting around the drugs so it seems like this was a random situation - it just happened to wash up on Norfolk Island as opposed to Australia or the New Zealand mainland." Another local, Brett Sanderson said the community is shocked. "This is stuff you see on TV that happens somewhere else, or you know maybe there's a drug bust in Australia's waters, a trawler or something is intercepted, but it always happens somewhere else." He also doesn't think the island is being used for transhipping drugs. "We're eight by five kilometres, so there are not a lot of secrets here." Sanderson, who owns a jewellery store on the island, said he first heard of the possibility of drugs on the island through tourists who visited his shop. "When these things happen, you're never quite sure whether it's just some crazy rumour that's spreading the island like Chinese whispers, or whether it's actually true." A spokesperson for the Australian Federal Police said investigations into the source of the drugs are continuing, including liaising with international partners. The Norfolk Island Police Force are asking the community to report any further sightings of suspicious packages but not to handle them.
