Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I stand before this Senate to provide a statement on behalf of the former chair of the Central Land Council, Matthew Palmer. He wrote to me:

Dear Senator Nampijinpa Price,

I write to inform you of the outcome of the Central Land Council meeting held yesterday in Tennant Creek where my position as the Chairperson was terminated effective immediately.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Nampijinpa Price, I have Senator Gallagher on her feet. If you wouldn't mind resuming your seat. Senator Gallagher?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, we've raised this a couple of times today. I understand Senator Nampijinpa Price would like to read that letter. We didn't provide leave for that letter to be tabled earlier today, particularly because it raises the names of a number of individuals. I'm wondering if Senator Nampijinpa Price might at least omit the names that are included in that correspondence until suitable investigations have been able to be had. There are serious allegations being raised and individuals being named in that correspondence, so I'm wondering if that's the way to deal with it in a more appropriate way.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Nampijinpa Price, are you seeking to respond?

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm happy to take on your advice and will continue to read the statement.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Okay, so you've heard the request from Senator Gallagher?

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have heard the request; yes.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Nampijinpa Price.

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. He says:

I am an Arrernte elder who accepted this position with the view that I would be able to make a difference in the lives of our indigenous mob and to be their voice in an environment of injustice and corruption.

…   …   …

I brought my grandfather Joe Ross, Arrernte men Randall Williams and Brian Young to the meeting for support. I was told they were not allowed into the meeting, that the meeting was for staff and delegates only. I was not afforded the right to procedural fairness, neither was I given to opportunity to present my case, the decision makers were not impartial, and they had a personal interest in the outcome. I felt unsafe in the meeting room.

I was asked to leave the room on three separate occasions; further, my legal team was shown little courtesy, my barrister via teams was closed out mid-sentence.

Ms—

… Shaw (CLC Delegate Region one) had threatened the delegates should they not cast a vote they would lose their position within the CLC as delegates. She said, "So you mob need to place your vote, or you will lose your position in CLC".

I was subject to seriously unfair treatment. I was given limited opportunity to give my case, beyond a few very leading questions.

This meeting, called in Tennant Creek undermined my support base in that my mob weren't able to travel. The Warrumungu mob were in support of Barb and—

the deputy chair—

and this put me on the back foot from the outset. I walked into a lion's den, I felt the meeting was hijacked by—

Ms—

… Shaw and—

the deputy chair—

… and delegates were bullied …

The meeting was scheduled to start at 8.30am but did not begin until after 3pm and went until … 7.30pm as the deputy chair was late having not complied with council rules by failing to be on site the day beforehand. People were obviously leaving and coming back in and it was monopolised by—

Ms—

… Shaw who refused to consider any arguments raised by my lawyers. The meeting was forced to go very late into the evening as a result.

I was handed a letter by Kate O'Brien (Principal Legal Officer CLC) at the conclusion of the meeting. This letter was a significant document. There is no way in which this letter could have been written in the time between when the decision to remove me was arrived at and when it was handed to me.

I was then swiftly taken outside to remove my personal belongings from the—

Central Land Council—

vehicle and to return the vehicle. This left me, my grandfather and family without means to return to Alice Springs. The letter given to me did not outline the reason for my termination. This was humiliating and disrespectful to me and my family who watched on in horror as this took place. At this time, I still do not understand why this is happening and I am in shock.

I understand that Warren Williams was appointed Chair from today 17 September and Barbara Shaw will be Deputy Chair. Today I'm receiving phone calls from delegates expressing their deep concern for an unfair process dealt to me by the land council.

I implore you to share my story to right this wrong.

…   …   …

Matthew Palmer.

I have also been updated on the circumstances surrounding this that the Arrernte men, Mr Randall and Mr Brian Young, had the police called on them when they inquired as to why they could not be there in support of Mr Palmer. They were then informed by the police to move themselves 50 metres away from the entrance of the building. They had done nothing wrong. They were there respectfully supporting the now former chair. It is disgraceful that this conduct even occurred. This is what goes on out of sight, out of mind. This is what traditional owners in remote communities whose first language is not English have to deal with. If you know English, you are a step ahead, just as the now deputy chair well knows.

I am outraged by this conduct and everyone in this place should be utterly outraged. The minister should be investigating. Since it has been suggested in this chamber, I hope there is an investigation into this matter because I will not be resting until there is.