Norfolk angry over plan to axe parliament

The people of Norfolk Island are up in arms over a proposal to strip them of self government, prompting a direct appeal to Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Norfolk's Minister for Cultural Heritage and Community Services Robin Adams says residents are desperate to keep their nine-member parliament, and a proposal that Canberra take over administration of the island is disrespectful and has no practical or logical basis.

A federal parliamentary committee report on the island's future, released last year, recommended Norfolk's Legislative Assembly be abolished due to concerns over the community's worsening economic prospects.

But Ms Adams says suggestions that the island can't manage its own finances or address key infrastructure and sustainability issues are incorrect.

Since 1979 the island on only two occasions has sought financial assistance from the Commonwealth in the form of interest-free loans, firstly to resurface the airport's runway, and then for a cliff stabilisation program, she said.

Ms Adams said that the proposal to abolish the parliament also overlooked the fact that the Norfolk government in 2010 entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the federal government to join Australia's taxation and welfare systems.

The Norfolk Island government has proposed that it become a territorial model of government similar to the ACT and Northern Territory, and then be eligible for a share of GST revenue.

"We're in an absolute hiatus of uncertainty in this community," she told AAP.

In a letter sent to Mr Abbott last week, Ms Adams tells the prime minister that the proposal that Canberra take over administration of the island is disrespectful, particularly to people of Pitcairn descent and has no practical or logical basis.

"The apparent lack of respect being shown to the people of Norfolk Island of Pitcairn descent is distressing to many here on the island who have voiced their deep concerns to me that yet again they are being threatened with the loss of self-government ... and a lack of a codified recognition of them as a people going forward," the letter says.

The letter was also sent to Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.

Ms Adams on Tuesday conceded there was division in the community over the best way forward in terms of funding the island.

"But I think it would be fair to say that if there were a referendum on the loss of our parliament and the loss of self-government, the community would not agree to that," she said.

"Underlying all of this, Norfolk Island to the Pitcairns descendants, this is their homeland," she said.