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Apr 15, 2024 · While the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are about to mark the 40th anniversary of a vote to integrate with Australia, longstanding issues of inequality make the milestone far from celebratory.
- The Clunies-Ross Era
- The End of The Kingdom
- Life in The Kampong
- Between Home Island and The Mainland
- Coming Together as One Community
The tiny circle of coral islands, 2,700 kilometres north-west of Perth, were discovered in 1609 by William Keeling of the East India Company. Officially, they are the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, but to the locals they're just called Cocos. The first settlements began in the 1820s, led by Englishman Alexander Hare and Scottish sea captain John Clunies-...
By 1978 the government had lost patience. John Clunies-Ross sold his land to the Commonwealth under threat of compulsory acquisition. Five years later, the Fraser government wanted him off the islands altogether. When its attempts to force the sale of Oceania House failed, it bankrupted him by refusing to give any business to his shipping company. ...
After self-determination, the kampong (village) on Home Island was replaced and is now made up of around 100 identical houses that residents can lease but not buy. Around 500 Cocos Malays live on Home Island, while another 120 people, mostly from the mainland, live on West Island. The communities are linked by a daily ferry that takes people to sch...
Most people have family on the mainland; since 1984, many Cocos Malays have moved to Perth, Geraldton, Port Hedland and Katanning to find work. Ibrahim Macrae, who works in governance at the shire, said he once planned to leave himself. "When I started at school I made the decision to stay on the mainland and look for opportunities on the mainland,...
The 35th anniversary of the Act of Self-Determination is a big deal. The community has planned days of celebrations, including traditional jukong (wooden boat) races on the lagoon, games, dance performances, a circus fire performance on the foreshore and a ball and presentations night. "The events are focused on celebrating the unique Cocos Malay c...
The Shire covers an area of 14.1 km 2 (5.4 sq mi) in the Indian Ocean, about 2,770 km (1,720 mi) north-west of Perth and 1,000 km (620 mi) south-west of Java in Indonesia. The current shire president is Aindil Minkom, who was elected in October 2019.
Oct 19, 2019 · Election Results Modified: Nov 22, 2019. General Information. At Stake in this Election : 3 seats on the Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Government Structure: Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II* Head of Government: Administrator Natasha GRIGGS (since 5 October 2018) Assembly: Cocos (Keeling) Islands has a unicameral Shire Council with 7 seats.
A status referendum was held in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands on 6 April 1984. All registered voters participated in the vote, with 88% voting for integration with Australia. The referendum has been described as the "smallest act of self-determination ever conducted".
Feb 8, 2019 · Assembly: Cocos (Keeling) Islands has a unicameral Shire Council with 7 seats. * The Queen is represented by Governor General Sir Peter COSGROVE. Description of electoral system:
Jan 23, 2022 · On December 16 the Cocos (Keeling) Islands community, in the Indian Ocean, was notified the islands had run out of unleaded petrol. The islands are 2,750km north of Perth. The popular tourist ...
