CLC chair Warren Williams defends DV past amid calls to stand down
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has called for Warren Williams to stand down, saying it’s ‘unacceptable’ for him to be leading efforts to reduce Indigenous disadvantage while having spent time in prison for DV offences.
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The chair of one of the Northern Territory’s powerful Aboriginal land councils says he has worked hard to get his life on track, resisting calls to step down after his criminal history – including domestic violence offences – was raised in parliament.
Newly appointed Central Land Council chair Warren Williams has a string of convictions between 2008 and 2015, including assault, being armed with an offensive weapon and multiple instances of contravening a DVO, according to documents tabled in the senate this week.
Mr Williams spoke publicly about his domestic violence history at a rally last year: “It was 30 years ago, I hit my wife and I did some time in that old cell – 10 months,” he said at the time.
In a statement this week he said “men need to see that change is possible”.
“I have made mistakes in my life, but I have worked hard to turn things around and set things right.
“I regret things I did in the past and have worked hard to make up for them. For the past decade, I’ve been on a better path, helping others and working to prevent domestic violence in our communities.
“If we want to stop male violence, we have to speak the truth. If you don’t bring out the truth, nothing is going to change.
“I have faced the consequences of my actions and am now looking at a better future, not only for me but for everyone around me.”
On Wednesday Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price called for Mr Williams to be removed as CLC chair, arguing it was “unacceptable” for him to be leading efforts to close the gap while having spent time in prison for serious crimes.
She urged the Albanese government to intervene, accusing it of “inaction and failure to address” domestic violence in the NT.
“The Central Land Council is an organisation that has a key role in implementing policy to combat Indigenous disadvantage in Central Australia,” Ms Price told the senate.
“Too many Indigenous community leaders, who are Labor aligned of course, are failing our women by refusing to acknowledge that there is a problem or refusing to exhibit behaviour that is any better.
“I call this out because we need to end the patterns of violence and violent offending in communities, and I refuse to hold Indigenous Australians to a lower standard than anyone else in this country.”
Health service Central Australian Aboriginal Congress said Mr Williams should be celebrated, not attacked.
“This isn’t news. For many years this man has openly used his story as a tool teaching Aboriginal men that positive change is possible,” Congress’ male health manager Michael Liddle said.
“Finding men like Warren Williams is incredibly hard. He will drive all night to get to (men’s behaviour change) sessions because he knows that his lived experience is what those men need to see and hear.
“I’ve known Warren for 30 years and worked with him for 10. He’s been successfully rehabilitated and has not had a drink for more than ten years. Any violent behaviour is long in the past, and he is now a great example to show Aboriginal men that permanent change is possible.”
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Originally published as CLC chair Warren Williams defends DV past amid calls to stand down
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