Indian Ocean Territories

              Cocos Keeling Islands                                                                                                              Christmas Island                                             

Australia’s Indian Ocean Territories:

RDAMWG is working with the Christmas Island and Cocos Keeling Island Communities to deliver RDA outcomes.

  
The Federal Government, through the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government administers, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands http://www.regional.gov.au/territories/.

The Department has overall responsibility for the Territories including the provision of State -type services. However, additional government services such as those involving quarantine and customs are the responsibility of the relevant Australian Government agencies.
Christmas Island is 380 km south of Java and 2,650 km north-west of  Perth with an area of 135 square kilometres http://www.regional.gov.au/territories/christmas/index.aspx The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are 2,950 kilometres north-west of Perth and 3,700 kilometres west of Darwin and are twenty-seven coral islands in the group with a total land area of approximately 14 square kilometres http://www.regional.gov.au/territories/cocos_keeling/index.aspx

State type services are provided through Service Delivery Arrangements between the Australian Government and Western Australian State Government agencies, direct administration by the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government and through contractual arrangements with other organisations.

Local Government legislation based on that of Western Australia was introduced in the early 1990’s and the first Shire Councils were elected in 1993 Shire of Christmas Island http://www.christmas.shire.gov.cx/ Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands http://www.shire.cc/
The current Administrator is Hon. Brian Lacy who was appointed by the Governor-General and represents the Minister and resides on Christmas Island. Contact for the Office of the Administrator 08 91637962.

Information on the IOT Economic Development Fund can be found at http://www.regional.gov.au/territories/indian_ocean/eco_dev_fund.aspx or by contacting the IOT Economic Development Officer Simon Millcock phone 08 91647959 mobile 0428437474 email simon.millcock@regional.gov.au