26 Jul 2017

Compliance costs and red tape a struggle on Norfolk

8:12 am on 26 July 2017

It's been a year since Australian Commonwealth law was extended to Norfolk Island and a local businessman says it's been a year of struggle.

Norfolk Island

Norfolk Island Photo: Supplied

Martin Cross said his business had been straining under the weight of new red-tape since Canberra shut down the island's autonomous legislature.

He said a new permitting system had been imposed on the importation of non-human food, even from Australia.

Mr Cross said the cost for this may prove unsustainable for the stockfeed importing business he spent the last 20-years building up.

"Off the top of my head I think it's $150 an application. If I had to apply for 60 of those at $150, well I just couldn't afford to run my business."

"If it all came into effect and push came to shove, I would have to shut the door," he said.