A Greens MP in New South Wales says he cannot believe the state has denied Norfolk Islanders their democratic right to vote in state elections.
Norfolk Island Photo: Wikipedia
Australia is folding Norfolk into New South Wales from next month, having stripped its autonomy a year ago.
The island's citizens will have a vote in a Canberra seat in the federal election but David Shoebridge said that, under legislation passed this week in Sydney, Norfolk Islanders will not be able to vote in the state parliament's poll.
"We asked the government, the New South Wales government, well surely you will join with us in doing everything we can to extend the franchise to Norfolk Island," he said.
"If they are going to be governed by the laws of New South Wales obviously they should have a vote in the New South Wales parliament. But the Coalition government here in New South Wales refused treat and literally treated Norfolk Island like a 21st century colony."
Many Norfolk Islanders continue to oppose the Australian take-over and they have an appeal before the United Nations for listing as a no-self-governing territory.