Norfolk Islanders have been granted an easing of planned increases to rates and levies, for now.
Photo: Norfolk government
Pleas had been made to Canberra to quash substantial rises planned for rates and waste management charges.
Australia's new Minister for Regional Development Kristy McBain said she heard the community's concerns loud and clear, including the need for extra time to plan and budget for the proposed increases.
She said the federal government and the appointed administrator decided to stagger the lift in charges over several years. The government would provide $1 million to cover the shortfall.
The original scheme was to raise to $2.7 million through the higher charges, so Norfolk Islanders can still expect hefty increases this year.
The Norfolk community had called for the increases to be cancelled completely, as many had been struggling to make ends meet for years.
Their lack of representation remained a burning issue.
The federal government shut down the locally elected regional council and replaced it with a Canberra-appointed administrator in 2015.
The new reductions made to the planned increases vary, with small residential holdings having their rates cut by less than $AU26, to $AU257, while some businesses have been given cuts of nearly half, for the coming year at least.
One group that had been upset was the Accommodation and Tourism Association. Group president Rael Donde welcomed the cuts, but he said the members' concerns remained.
The new rates still included a 218 percent increase on the previous year's rates for the accommodation sector.
"So that is a concern for us going forward, as well as the prospect of increased rates next year," he said.
"But it's certainly a relief for us and we are very pleased they listened to us."
