The Australian appointed administrator to Norfolk Island is believed to be in London courting backing for his government's controversial removal of the island's autonomy.
As of July this year the government of Norfolk was reduced to a regional council, but many on the island remain opposed to the actions taken by Canberra.
Last month a group of British MPs visited the island and voiced support for those wanting their autonomy back.
The administrator Gary Hardgrave is now understood to be in London, and the spokesperson for Norfolk's People for Democracy group, former chief minister, Andre Nobbs, says this is unusual, given the island's administrators are typically apolitical.
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Hands up for democracy protest in Norfolk Island Photo: Facebook: Norfolk under siege