Former chief minister Lisle Snell was among the passionate crowd that gathered to protest against the Australian government's decision to dissolve the legislative assembly (which had been running fine since 1979) and take control of the island territory.

The eerily titled Norfolk Island "reform initiative" will come into effect on July 1 and Australian law will be forced on the locals.

Speaking to BuzzFeed News over the phone, Snell said locals occupied the old parliament and surrounding barracks to send a message to Aussies: "We are Norfolk Islanders. We are not Australians. Why are they denying us that?"