This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(March 2009) |
TheShire of Christmas Islandis alocal government areaencompassing the Australian external territory ofChristmas Island.Under the Christmas Island Act,Western Australianlaws apply to the island, including theLocal Government Act 1995.[2]
| Shire of Christmas Island Australia | |
|---|---|
 Location off the coast ofWestern Australia | |
 | |
| Population | 1,692 (LGA2021)[1] |
| Area | 136.7 km2(52.8 sq mi) |
| Mayor | Gordon Thomson |
| Council seat | Christmas Island |
| Region | External territory of Australia |
| Federal division(s) | Lingiari |
 | |
| Website | Shire of Christmas Island |
It covers an area of 136.7 km2in the Indian Ocean about 2,360 km north-west ofPerthand 500 km south ofJavain Indonesia. It has a population of 1,692 (LGA 2021).
History
editThe island was previously a British territory administered throughSingaporebut was transferred to Australia in 1945. After 1958, it was managed by the Christmas Island Assembly and Christmas Island Services Corporation.[citation needed]
The Australian Government provides Commonwealth-level government services through the Christmas Island Administration and theDepartment of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government.As per the Federal Government'sTerritories Law Reform Act 1992,which came into force on 1 July 1992,Western Australianlaws are applied to Christmas Island "so far as they are capable of applying in the Territory.";[3]non-application or partial application of such laws is at the discretion of the federal government. The Act also gives Western Australian courts judicial power over Christmas Island. Christmas Island remains constitutionally distinct from Western Australia, however; the power of the state to legislate for the territory is power delegated by the federal government. The kind of services typically provided by a state government elsewhere in Australia are provided by departments of the Western Australian Government, and by contractors, with the costs met by the federal government.
An ordinance subsequently created the Shire of Christmas Island out of a merger of the two previous entities. A nine-member Shire Council was established to provide local services. Councillors serve four-year terms, with four or five being chosen every second year. The first elections were held in May 1993.[4]
The Shire's offices are located at George Fam Centre, Murray Road,Christmas Island.
Demographics
editThe shire has around 1,200 residents consisting mostly ofMalaysian Chinese,Malays,people ofAnglo Australiandescent and smaller communities ofMalaysian Indiansand Eurasians.[5][6]The main languages spoken are English,Malay,andMandarin Chinese[citation needed].Some residents speak otherChinese dialects.[4]About 60% of the population speaks Chinese at home, 20% speak Malay at home, and 20% speak English or another European language at home.[7]
Presidents of the Shire of Christmas Island
editThe office was known as the "President of Christmas Island Shire Council" prior to 2004.[8]
| # | President | Party | Took office | Left office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lillian Oh | 1 July 1992 | 1995 | |
| Jeffery Tan(acting) | 1995 | 1997 | ||
| 2 | Andrew Smolders(1st time) | 1998 | 1999 | |
| 3 | Dave McLane | 1999 | 2001 | |
| Andrew Smolders(2nd time) | 2001 | 2003 | ||
| 4 | Gordon Thomson | Labor | 2003 | 18 October 2011 |
| 5 | Foo Kee Heng | 18 October 2011 | 21 October 2013 | |
| 6 | Gordon Thomson(2nd time) | Labor | 21 October 2013 | Incumbent |
Wards
editThe shire has nine councillors and no wards.
Education
editChristmas Island District High Schoolis the school on Christmas Island. Until the end of 2002 the school was a K-Year 10 school; previously all post-compulsory levels and now compulsory with the new school leaving age (Year 11 and Year 12) studied inPerth,Western Australia. Year 11 enrollment began in 2002, and by 2005 Years 11 and 12 had been established at the school. Christmas Island students have the option to remain on the island or study in Perth.[7]
The shire includes a public library for residents. The library has regular book exchanges with theState Library of Western Australia.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Australian Bureau of Statistics(28 June 2022)."Christmas Island (Local Government Area)".Australian Census 2021 QuickStats.Retrieved28 June2022.
- ^"Christmas Island governance and administration".Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.Retrieved30 December2022.
- ^Territories Law Reform Act 1992.Comlaw.gov.au. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
- ^ab"Welcome to the Shire of Christmas Island."Shire of Christmas Island.Retrieved 23 February 2009.
- ^"Island induction | Christmas Island District High School".Archived fromthe originalon 3 August 2017.Retrieved18 November2015.
- ^Simone Dennis (2008).Christmas Island: An Anthropological Study.Cambria Press. pp. 91–.ISBN9781604975109.
- ^ab"About Christmas Island[permanent dead link]."Christmas Island District High School.Retrieved 23 February 2009.
- ^"Christmas Island".Worldstatesmen.org. 5 June 2012.Retrieved6 June2012.
- ^"Public LibraryArchived15 September 2009 at theWayback Machine."Shire of Christmas Island.Retrieved 23 February 2009.
