Minutes of Proceedings - 2009-02-16
1. MEETING:
2. PRAYERS.
3. LEAVE OF ABSENCE - MEMBER FOR SANDERSON:
4. PAIRS ARRANGEMENTS:
5. VISITORS:
6. STATEMENT BY SPEAKER:
Mr Neville Perkins AM; former member for Macdonnell and former Deputy Leader of the Opposition of the Legislative Assembly;
Mr Peter Jones, Synod Secretary of the Uniting Church in Australia;
Reverend Djiniyini Gondara OAM;
Bishop Ted Collins, the former Bishop of Darwin;
Reverend Wendell Flentje, the Moderator of the Uniting Church in Australia;
Reverend Steve Warne, former Moderator of the Uniting Church in Australia; and
Hon Brian Martin, former Chief Justice of the Northern Territory.
7. CONDOLENCE - REVEREND JIM DOWNING AM - MOTION AGREED TO:
9. MINISTERIAL REPORTS:
10. LAKE EYRE BASIN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BILL 2009 (Serial 31):
11. TERRITORY PARKS AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AMENDMENT BILL 2008 (Serial 24):
12. NOTICES:
15. TERRITORY PARKS AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AMENDMENT BILL 2008 (Serial 24):
- The Assembly met at 10am. The Speaker, the Honourable J. L. Aagaard, took the Chair.
2. PRAYERS.
3. LEAVE OF ABSENCE - MEMBER FOR SANDERSON:
- The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Mills) moved - That leave of absence be granted to the Member for Sanderson (Mr Styles) for this sittings week, 16 February to 19 February 2009, inclusive.
Question - put and passed.
4. PAIRS ARRANGEMENTS:
- The Speaker (Mrs Aagaard) laid on the Table a document relating to pairs for this sittings week, 16 to 19 February 2009, inclusive for the Member for Sanderson (Mr Styles) who will be paired by the Member for Arafura (Ms Scrymgour) (Paper 229).
5. VISITORS:
- The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the public galleries of Palmerston High School Year 7 students accompanied by Mrs Kirsteen Squires and Mrs Beryl Brugmans.
On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
6. STATEMENT BY SPEAKER:
- The Speaker advised the Assembly of the death on 5 January 2009 of Reverend Jim Downing AM, a minister in the Uniting Church in Australia, former moderator of the Northern Synod of the Uniting Church, the instigator of the Institute of Aboriginal Development, a fighter for justice and a great Territorian.
The Speaker advised Members of the following family, friends and distinguished visitors:
- His widow, Shirley Downing; his two sisters, who travelled from Melbourne to be here; his daughters Bronwyn, Kathy, and Sue.
Distinguished visitors:
Mr Neville Perkins AM; former member for Macdonnell and former Deputy Leader of the Opposition of the Legislative Assembly;
Mr Peter Jones, Synod Secretary of the Uniting Church in Australia;
Reverend Djiniyini Gondara OAM;
Bishop Ted Collins, the former Bishop of Darwin;
Reverend Wendell Flentje, the Moderator of the Uniting Church in Australia;
Reverend Steve Warne, former Moderator of the Uniting Church in Australia; and
Hon Brian Martin, former Chief Justice of the Northern Territory.
On behalf of all honourable Members the Speaker extended a very warm welcome.
7. CONDOLENCE - REVEREND JIM DOWNING AM - MOTION AGREED TO:
- The Chief Minister (Mr Henderson), by leave, moved - That this Assembly -
(a) express its deep regret at the death of Reverend Jim Downing AM, a valuable member of the Territory community, and
(b) sends its profound sympathy to his family and friends.
The Chief Minister (Mr Henderson) thereupon addressed the Assembly.
The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Mills) addressed the Assembly.
Debate ensued.
Question - put and passed.
Motion agreed to.
As a mark of respect Members stood in their places for one minute, in silence.
- The Speaker laid on the Table the following Message from the Administrator -
Message No. 5
Lake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Bill 2009
I, Thomas Ian Pauling, Administrator of the Northern Territory of Australia, under section 11 of the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978 (Cth), recommend to the Legislative Assembly a Bill for an Act to approve, ratify and facilitate the Lake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement, which requires an annual contribution to be paid from the public moneys of the Territory to the budget of the Ministerial forum constituted under the Agreement.
Dated 16 February 2009.
Sgd T I Pauling AO QC
Administrator
(Paper 230)
9. MINISTERIAL REPORTS:
- Broadband update, Arnhem: The Minister for Information, Communications and Technology Policy (Mr Hampton) reported on progress with and update of the Arnhem broadband connections using optical fibre cabling upgrades.
Mr Bohlin responded.
Mr Wood responded.
Mr Hampton replied.
Heritage listings: The Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage (Ms Anderson) reported on the state of new heritage listings and heritage grants in the Territory.
Mr Chandler responded.
Mr Wood responded.
Ms Anderson replied.
Recreational Fishing Development Plan: The Minister for Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources (Mr Vatskalis) reported on a new recreation fishing development plan for the Territory.
Mr Westra Van Holthe.
Mr Wood responded.
Mr Vatskalis replied.
Ministerial Reports noted, pursuant to Standing Orders.
10. LAKE EYRE BASIN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BILL 2009 (Serial 31):
- The Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage (Ms Anderson), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to approve, ratify and facilitate the Lake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement.
Bill read a first time.
Ms Anderson moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
Debate ensued.
Paper tabled: Ms Anderson laid on the Table the following Paper -
Debate ensued.
Leave granted for the Member for Port Darwin (Mr Elferink) to continue his remarks at a later hour.
Leave granted to the Treasurer (Ms Lawrie) to speak in explanation of issue raised by Mr Elferink and to continue her remarks at a later hour.
On the motion of the Leader of Government Business (Dr Burns) debate was adjourned.
11. TERRITORY PARKS AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AMENDMENT BILL 2008 (Serial 24):
- The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the question - That the Bill be now read a second time -
Debate resumed.
Debate suspended.
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Suspension of sittings: The sittings of the Assembly was suspended between 12.01pm and 2pm.
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12. NOTICES:
- The following notices were given:
Ms Lawrie: To present the Criminal Code Amendment (Expert Evidence) Bill 2009 (Serial 32).
- Ms Anderson: To present the Information Amendment Bill 2009 (Serial 33).
- The Speaker laid on the Table a letter from the Member for Nhulunbuy (Ms Walker) resigning as Chair of the Environment and Sustainable Development Committee, dated 15 February 2009. (Paper 232)
- 2.02pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
2.07pm Ms Walker to Mr Henderson.
2.11pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
2.17pm Mr Gunner to Mr Henderson.
2.21pm Mr Westra Van Holthe to Mr Henderson.
2.27pm Ms Walker to Mr Henderson.
2.31pm Mr Conlan to Mr Vatskalis.
2.34pm Mr Gunner to Ms Lawrie.
2.38pm Mr Conlan to Mr Vatskalis.
Paper tabled: Mr Vatskalis laid on the Table the following Paper -
2.42pm Ms Walker to Ms Lawrie.
2.48pm Mr Conlan to Mr Vatskalis.
2.49pm Mr Gunner to Dr Burns.
2.54pm Mr Wood to Mr Knight.
2.58pm Ms Walker to Mr McCarthy.
The Leader of Government Business (Dr Burns) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
15. TERRITORY PARKS AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AMENDMENT BILL 2008 (Serial 24):
- The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the question, suspended earlier this day - That the Bill be now read a second time -
Debate resumed.
Question - put and passed.
Bill read a second time.
The Assembly resolved itself into Committee of the Whole for consideration of the Bill.
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In Committee
(Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committee - Ms Walker in the Chair)
In Committee
(Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committee - Ms Walker in the Chair)
Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
Debate ensued.
Bill as a whole agreed to.
Bill to be reported, without amendment.
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The Assembly resumed; the Speaker took the Chair; the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees (Ms Walker) reported that the Assembly had agreed to the Bill, without amendment.
The report was adopted.
On the motion of the Minister for Parks and Wildlife (Ms Anderson) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.
- The Chief Minister (Mr Henderson) made a statement relating to the Territory's implementation of its share of the Federal stimulus package for the Australian Economy.
Mr Henderson moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
Debate ensued.
Extension of time: On the motion of the Member for Johnston (Dr Burns) the Member for Karama (Ms Lawrie) was granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Debate continued.
Extension of time: On the motion of the Member for Araluen (Ms Carney) the Member for Port Darwin (Mr Elferink) was granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Debate continued.
Paper tabled: Dr Burns laid on the Table the following Paper -
Debate continued.
Extension of time: On the motion of the Member for Araluen (Ms Carney) the Member for Fong Lim (Mr Tollner) was granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Debate continued.
Extension of time: On the motion of the Member for Barkly (Mr McCarthy) the Member for Arnhem (Ms McCarthy) was granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Debate continued.
Question - put and passed.
- The Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 41A, at 9pm proposed the question - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Debate ensued.
The Assembly adjourned at 9.29pm until Tuesday 17 February 2009 at 10am.
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PAPERS:
There were no Papers deemed to have been presented on Monday 16 February 2009.
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- ATTENDANCE:
All Members attended the sittings except Mr Styles, on leave.
Mr Ian McNeill
Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016