Legal System of Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is located in Australia Oceania. It is geographically situated in oceania, island in the south pacific ocean, east of australia. The country achieved independence on none (territory of australia). The capital is Kingston.
Government Overview
Government Type: administered as an overseas territory of Australia Chief of State: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sam MOSTYN (since 1 July 2024) Head of Government: Administrator George PLANT (since 1 June 2023) National Holiday: Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Legal System
The legal system of Norfolk Island is described as english common law and the laws of Australia
Constitutional Framework
The constitution has the following history: previous 1913, 1957; latest effective 7 August 1979
Judicial Branch
Highest Court(s): Supreme Court of Norfolk Island (consists of the chief justice and several justices) Judge Selection: justices appointed by the governor general of Australia from among justices of the Federal Court of Australia; justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 70 Subordinate Courts: Petty Court of Sessions; specialized courts, including a Coroner’s Court and the Employment Tribunal
Legislative Branch
The legislative structure consists of unicameral
Citizenship and Suffrage
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Historical Background
Polynesians lived on Norfolk Island between 1200 and 1500, but the remote island was uninhabited by the time British explorer James COOK landed on the island in 1774. Two British attempts at establishing the island as a penal colony (1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned.
In 1856, almost 200 Pitcairn Islanders – descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions – were relocated to Norfolk Island because of overcrowding on the Pitcairn Islands.
This article provides a summary of the legal system and governmental structure of Norfolk Island based on the CIA World Factbook. The Factbook is a public domain publication of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.