Norfolk Island, a tiny volcanic island in the South Pacific Ocean spanning just 35 square kilometres, will be included in Australia's Census of Population and Housing on 11 August. This marks the third time the island has participated, a decade after federal reforms made its inclusion possible.
Home to about 2,100 residents, the island is known for its natural beauty and close-knit community, according to Nicholas Mostardo, acting general manager of the Norfolk Island Regional Council (NIRC). "It's got a rich environment, it's got very warm and kind people. It's probably one of the most unique places in the world that I've had personally the pleasure of being involved with," Mostardo told SBS News.
A Decade of Change
The Census has been conducted in Australia for over a century, but Norfolk Island only began participating in 2016, following governance reforms passed in 2015. The island became an Australian territory in 1914, but its constitutional arrangement was unclear for decades. In 1979, limited self-government was granted, but the 2015 reforms transferred governance responsibility to the Australian government.
In 2023, the Norfolk Island Governance Committee was established as an advisory body, and the island is now considered an external territory of Australia. This complex history has divided some residents, including those of Pitcairn descent, over whether the island should be counted in Australia's Census.
Pitcairn Heritage and Ancestry
Pitcairn Islanders, who arrived on Norfolk Island in 1856, have a distinct culture and speak the Norf'k-Pitcairn language, a blend of 18th-century English and Tahitian. The Norfolk Island People for Democracy (NIPD) has previously petitioned the United Nations to list Norfolk Island as a non-self-governing territory, describing Australia's relationship with the island as a "bloodless genocide."
The ABS notes that ancestry data from the 2021 Census is not comparable with earlier censuses due to changes in how the question was asked. In 2011, 38.4 per cent identified as having Pitcairn descent; this dropped to 29.6 per cent in 2016 and 25.1 per cent in 2021. However, the actual number of people with Pitcairn ancestry increased from 484 in 2016 to 550 in 2021. This year, residents can list up to four ancestries.
Community Engagement and Impact
Mostardo said the ABS has made "some new arrangements" to better reflect responses for Norfolk Island residents, easing concerns about the ancestry question. "The Census is important to Norfolk. You know, it really will assist us and the Commonwealth government with funding arrangements for the island; assisting with things like strategic planning and economic capacity as well," he said.
The Council of Elders, Norfolk Island, has engaged with the ABS to improve data collection. In a social media post, the group explained: "In 2016, when the ABS took over the Census, there were many shortfalls for Norfolk. The change made long-term planning for Norfolk difficult. As the Council of Elders' role is to advocate for the community, it became evident that we need to know more about the composition of our community today."
Households can complete the Census online or on paper. Paper forms can be returned to the Supper Room from 10 August to 16 August, or collected by field officers in privacy envelopes. The ABS advises against mailing forms back.
