Queensland will soon take over control of Norfolk Island services. 

The Commonwealth has provided services to the island since it decided in 2015 to revoke Norfolk Island’s autonomy. It had been governed under its own legislative assembly since 1979. 

But NSW is stepping away from an agreement with the Federal Government to provide services, so a new deal has been struck with Queensland.

The federal and Queensland governments announced an agreement for Queensland to provide essential health and education services to the island and its population of more than 1,700 people. 

The governments are now drilling into the details of scheduling for transition planning and implementation. 

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said her government would be “tailoring future delivery models” to address community needs. 

The deal covers schooling and health services on the remote South Pacific outcrop to be provided by Queensland from January 1. However, it also allows the Australian and Queensland governments to consider which other state services to provide progressively over time.

British settlers first arrived at the island in 1774, giving it its current name. The island is possibly best known as the final settling place of descendants of the Bounty mutineers that were relocated from Pitcairn Island.