At the Extraordinary Council Meeting on 9 September 2026, Norfolk Island Regional Council resolved to take final action in the Telecom satellite backhaul service issue.
Council resolved to write off as bad debt a further $364,909.50, from the period of 1 April to 30 June 2026, in historical satellite backhaul service charges issued to Norfolk Island Central School (NICS) and Norfolk Island Health and Residential Aged Care Service (NIHRACS).
Both NICS and NIHRACS have since entered into 12-month telecommunications services agreements with Council, commencing on 1 July 2026, placing the ongoing provision of these services under formal commercial arrangements.
The $364,909.50 write-off represents the final requirement of a Commonwealth supplementary funding arrangement under which Council agreed to write off a total of $2.4 million in historical satellite backhaul debt. The debt arose as a result of Council continuing to provide essential telecommunications services without the Commonwealth subsidy following the expiry of the operating grant in December 2024. Council takes responsibility for these costs having been incurred and the matter is not the fault of either NICS or NIHRACS.
By approving the additional write-off at the Extraordinary Council Meeting on 9 September 2026, Council has satisfied the final requirement of the Commonwealth supplementary funding arrangement and will now be eligible to receive $1,432,876.33 from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts. This funding will assist Council in offsetting a portion of the historical costs associated with the provision of satellite backhaul services. The funding is expected to be received in due course.
Since the matter was identified and reported at the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 1 April 2026, Council has remained committed to providing timely and transparent updates as it worked to resolve the issue. This resolution also marks the conclusion of this matter and Council's updates on the issue.
For enquiries, please contact Customer Care by email at customercare@nirc.gov.nf, by local free call on 0100, or by telephone on (+6723) 22001.