A special meeting of the Central Land Council yesterday elected former CLC deputy chair Warren Williams to lead the council as its new chair.
CLC members gathered at Tennant Creek from across the southern half of the Northern Territory voted for the former assistant principal from Yuendumu to replace Matthew Palmer, who had lost the confidence of the council. Mr Williams was a deputy to both Mr Palmer and his late predecessor, Mr Hoosan, with whom he shared a focus on the wellbeing of young people. As a former councillor and deputy president of the Central Desert Regional Council and chair of Yuendumu’s Warlpiri Project he brings a wealth of leadership experience to his new role. In thanking members for their confidence, Mr Williams said he would keep speaking up for people out bush and uphold the CLC’s strong governance culture and its commitment to honesty and fairness.
“This special meeting is testament to our council’s good governance processes,” he said.
“I would like to pay tribute to the integrity of my fellow elected members and express my confidence in, and high regard for, CLC chief executive Lesley Turner.” Mr Williams will be supported by newly-elected deputy chair Barbara Shaw, from Mount Nancy town camp in Alice Springs. Ms Shaw is a former deputy chair of the CLC and the current chair of Aboriginal Investment Northern Territory. They will lead the council until the regular council elections in April next year.