The Queensland and Australian Governments have announced a joint intention to develop an enduring partnership for the provision of State services to Norfolk Island.
The two administrations have signed a Heads of Agreement to support the delivery of critical services, including health and school education, to one of Australia’s most remote communities.
Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk said the agreement recognised Queensland’s ability to overcome the challenges of distance to deliver high-quality, essential services like health and education.
“Queensland’s effective health management and expertise has been lauded in Australia and abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“We continue to demonstrate excellence in education, offering inclusive learning experiences for students at more than 600 State schools throughout rural and remote Queensland.”
She said by working with the Commonwealth “we look forward to tailoring these essential services to meet the unique needs of the Norfolk Island community, inspiring favourable outcomes for the more than 1,700 people who call the island home”.
The Premier said the Governments would develop arrangements for essential school education delivery and health services support on Norfolk Island as the first priority, working closely with the NSW Government.
The agreement also provides for the Australian and Queensland Governments to continue to consider other State services progressively over time to provide Norfolk Islanders with comparable services and regulatory support to similar mainland communities.
