Career
On 24 March 2010,Snell was appointed deputy speaker. [1] He served as chief minister until the island's autonomy was revoked.
In 2013,Snell stated that Norfolk Island could become independent from Australia. [5] In 2015,the Parliament of Australia voted to eliminate Norfolk Island's autonomy, despite lobbying from Snell, and instituted direct control. Snell stated that a referendum should have been held to determine the future of Norfolk Island's autonomy and the Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly passed a resolution supporting that view by a vote of 8 to 1. A non-binding referendum held by the islanders supported maintaining their autonomy. Snell and others opposed to the end of autonomy formed Norfolk Island People for Democracy and an appeal to the United Nations was filed by Geoffrey Robertson.
Snell was one of five people elected to the Norfolk Island Regional Council in 2016. [9] On 16 December 2021,the Australian government suspended the council,which was in the midst of a debt crisis requiring $10 million,for three years. Snell stated that the economy was ruined due to a loss of tourism from the COVID-19 pandemic and that the council was losing $1 million per week.
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