Member for Murray-Darling
The Nationals’ Whip

John Williams was first elected to Parliament as Member for Murray-Darling in 2007.  The electorate covers 250,000 square kilometres of NSW, containing 13 Shires and local Councils and a large Unincorporated Area of remote Far West NSW.

Born in Perth, John Williams came to Broken Hill as a child in 1955, when his father took a job in Industrial Relations with the mining company, North Broken Hill Limited.

After leaving from Broken Hill High School, John began working at the Broken Hill South Mine, as an apprentice fitter and machinist, which he completed before undertaking two years of National Service. John returned to mining in Broken Hill and completed his Higher School Certificate at night school before undertaking external studies in economics, accounting and financial management at the University of New England.

John became involved in small business after purchasing the Broken Hill Ford dealership in 1977. In 1999 John established another car dealership in Mildura, now operated by his son.

John enjoys golf, flying and bridge and is proud of his family - wife Helen, sons Jason and Craig and two grand daughters Maddie and Avalon.

John has been a strong community leader and instigator of change. His involvement in numerous community-based organisations has given him a strong understanding of the needs of regional NSW.

Some of his achievements include acting as a member of the Yugoslav Napredak Club, where John's influence saw the Club gain funding and expand to become a community-wide sporting and recreational club, joining the Far West Industry Board in 1983 where he later served as Chairman for eight years, and serving on the National Chair of the Reference Group for Area Consultative Committees, who reported on rural issues to the Federal Minister for Transport and Regional Services.

John Williams has also played an instrumental role in establishing the Broken Hill Enterprise Development Centre, Business Incubator and Darling Matilda Way Sustainable Regions Advisory Committee.

John’s ability to rally behind regional needs was shown through a local skills forum which resulted in major increases in local apprentice numbers and has been responsible for over $10 million of State and Federal funds injected into regional communities and regional business development.

In the early 1990s John helped raise $30,000, which saw international artists create the Broken Hill Sculptures, an iconic Broken Hill tourist attraction.