A well-known figure, active in the community since the 1970s, Arnold Carter can remember Port Hedland’s first shipment of iron ore in 1966. The industry has transformed the small town, whose population was then 45% Indigenous. Arnold pointed out that ‘The Indigenous people have gone from strength to strength, we've gone strength to strength, and I'm sure in the future we'll keep going strength to strength.’

Carter was sworn in as Deputy Mayor on 19 October, 2009. He is also Chairman of the Historic Society.