Lisle Snell

Lisle Denis Snell is an Australian politician who served as Chief Minister of Norfolk Island from 2013 to 2015, and as a member of Norfolk Island Regional Council from 2016 to 2021, before both were dissolved by the Australian government.

Early life Lisle Snell is of Pitcairn descent. and traced his lineage to Matthew Quintal, a participant of the mutiny on the Bounty. He worked as a tourist guide.

Career On 24 March 2010, Snell was appointed deputy speaker. He served as chief minister until the island's autonomy was revoked.

In 2013, Snell stated that Norfolk Island could become independent from Australia. 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. 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.