Norfolk Island to become 'local council' of Australia after vote in parliament

Australia's offshore territory, Norfolk Island, will formally become a local council of Australia when changes to replace the self-governing parliament are introduced next year.

The bill was approved in federal Parliament on Tuesday, after members of the Opposition approved the vote for the historic change.

Federal Territories Minister Jamie Briggs told Parliament that the island was in disrepair, and the move was the best thing for the citizens of Norfolk Island.

"These changes deliver equity to Norfolk Island and ensure residents have access to essential services that all Australians deserve," Briggs said.

"It also delivers much-needed governance reform."

The minister said that a review into upgrading the island's aging infrastructure and taxation system, which had remained unchanged for decades, was already underway.

The change means that Norfolk Island's 1800 residents will be required to pay Australian taxes from July 2016, in a trade-off which would result in residents being eligible to apply for Australian social security payments, the taxpayer-funded Medicare health care scheme, and the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

The island would adhere to New South Wales' laws once the changes are officially made.

The decision is a far cry from independence from Australia that some Norfolk Island officials were calling for.

On Monday, the island's Minister for Cultural Heritage and Community Services Robin Adams said approving the bill would be " an absolute denial of human rights and a grave travesty of justice ".

Currently, Norfolk Island's status as an external territory means it represents itself on the world sporting stage. Much like other former British territories, Norfolk Island competes in the Commonwealth Games every four years. This is likely to change under the new laws.

Norfolk Island is located 1400 kilometers off the coast of Brisbane on Australia's east coast. Endi