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Stories (5)
Polls are open on Cocos (Keeling) and Christmas islands, but voters feel forgotten - ABC News
Summary: - Polls opened for remote voters on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island, both part of the NT’s Lingiari electorate, Australia’s largest marginal seat by area. - Voters on the islands, about 1,000km apart, say they feel neglected by national campaigns and candidates, with climate change and cost of living as top concerns. - Local leaders warn of rising sea levels and storm surges threatening the Cocos atoll; discussions of a long-term “managed retreat” h
2026-05-25Cocos (Keeling) Islands' 40 years of struggling to be heard as an Australian territory - ABC News
- The Cocos (Keeling) Islands, an Australian territory since 1955, have long sought fuller self-determination and equal rights with mainland Australia. - In 1984, the Cocos Malay community and the Clunies-Ross family voted on self-determination; 88% favored full integration with Australia, but ongoing concerns remain about housing, land tenure, and representation. - Local governance is by the Shire and an administrator appointed by the federal government; residents are repres
2026-05-25Trepidation over ADF plan to upgrade airstrip, boost military capability on Cocos (Keeling) Islands - ABC News
Summary: - The Australian Defence Force plans a major upgrade to the airstrip on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, aimed at boosting military capability and maritime surveillance, including support for the RAAF P-8 Poseidon. - The project has ballooned from an initial $184 million to about $568 million, prompting concerns among island residents about security implications, construction disruption, and the potential for the runway to become a target. - Community leaders call for cl
2026-05-25Cocos (Keeling) Islands governance and administration
Summary focused on Cocos (Keeling) Islands governance and administration (relevant to foreign policy, politics, diplomacy, elections, economy, security): - Status and governance - External Australian territory; governed by the Australian Government under section 122 of the Constitution. - No state-level government; the Australian Government provides state-type laws and services. - Administration and leadership - Administered by the Australian Government via the Depart
2026-05-25$500m Defence upgrade of Cocos Islands runway has locals worried for their futures - ABC News
Summary: - The Australian Defence Force plans a A$500+ million upgrade to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands airstrip, extending the runway to accommodate P-8A Poseidon aircraft for anti-submarine warfare and surveillance. - The project is the largest ever infrastructure investment on West Island and aims to bolster Australia’s military reach in the Indo-Pacific, aligning with broader strategic shifts (postures on missile warfare, Quad alignment, and the AUKUS submarine pact). - Loc
2026-05-25