Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 2012-02-23

    1. MEETING:
    The Assembly met at 10am. The Speaker, the Honourable J. L. Aagaard, took the Chair.

    2. PRAYERS.

    3. VISITORS:
        The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the public galleries of Moil Primary School, gifted and talented class students accompanied by Ms Parkes and Mrs Saynor.
        On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.

    4. PAIRS:
        The Speaker advised Members of the following pair arrangements for as follows –
    Member for Nightcliff (Mrs Aagaard) with the Member for Fong Lim (Mr Tollner) for the period 10.15am to Noon, Thursday, 23 February 2012 (Paper 1733).

    5. BUILDING AMENDMENT (DISABILITY ACCESS AND OTHER MATTERS) BILL 2012 (Serial 202):
        The Minister for Lands and Planning (Mr McCarthy), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Building Act.
        Bill read a first time.
        Mr McCarthy moved – That the Bill be now read a second time.
        Debate ensued.
        Paper tabled: Mr McCarthy laid on the Table the following Paper –
    Explanatory Statement, Building Amendment (Disability Access and Other Matters) Bill 2012 (Paper 1734).

        On the motion of the Member for Fong Lim (Mr Tollner) debate was adjourned.

    6. MEDICINES, POISONS AND THERAPEUTIC GOODS BILL 2011 (Serial 180):
        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.
    ____________________
        Suspension of sittings: The sittings of the Assembly was suspended between 12 Noon and 2pm.
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        Visitors: The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the public galleries of ALP Electorate Officers participating in their annual officers seminar.
        On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.

    7. QUESTIONS:
        1.59pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
        2.04pm Mr Gunner to Mr Henderson.
        2.08pm Mr Styles to Mr Knight.
        2.11pm Ms Scrymgour to Ms Lawrie.
        2.14pm Mr Westra van Holthe to Ms McCarthy.
        2.18pm Mr Wood to Mr Henderson.
        2.21pm Ms Walker to Ms McCarthy.
        2.24pm Ms Purick to Mr Vatskalis and referred to Mr Henderson.
        2.26pm Mr Gunner to Mr Henderson.
        2.31pm Mr Wood to Mr McCarthy.
        2.34pm Mr Bohlin to Mr Henderson.
        Paper tabled: Mr Bohlin, by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -
    Heatcraft Worldwide Refrigeration, climate change pricing, carbon pricing summary, September 2011 (Paper 1735).

        2.38pm Mr Gunner to Dr Burns.
        2.41pm Mrs Lambley to Mr Vatskalis.
        2.44pm Mr Gunner to Mr Vatskalis.
        2.47pm Mr Elferink to Mr Knight.
        2.48pm Ms Scrymgour to Mr Vatskalis.
        2.51pm Mr Elferink to Mr Knight.
        2.53pm Mr Elferink to Mr Henderson.
        2.56pm Ms Walker to Dr Burns.
        2.59pm Mr Elferink to Mr Henderson.

        The Leader of Government Business (Dr Burns) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
    8. MEDICINES, POISONS AND THERAPEUTIC GOODS BILL 2011 (Serial 180):
        The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate, suspended earlier this day, on the question – That the Bill be now read a second time –
        Debate resumed.
        Extension of time: On the motion of the Member for Port Darwin (Mr Elferink) the Member for Johnston (Dr Burns) was granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.

        Debate continued.
        On the motion of the Member for Health (Mr Vatskalis) the Committee stage of the Bill was to be later taken.
    9. EDUCATION, INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE – STATEMENT NOTED:
        The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the question – That the Assembly take note of the Statement –
        Debate resumed.
        Extension of time: On the motion of the Member for Nhulunbuy (Ms Walker) the Member for Arafura (Ms Scrymgour) was granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.

        Debate continued.
        Papers tabled: Ms Anderson, by leave, laid on the Table the following Papers –
    Letter, to Ms Anderson, Member for Macdonnell – Tutoring Program, Retired Teachers interested in being volunteer tutors for the month of May 30 – 24 June from Ralph Watkins and Diane de Vere (Paper 1743); and
    Email from Wilma Lambert, Teacher/Manager of Lilla School and Co-Principal of the Lambert Independent School in Tasmania, working as Teaching Principals in Watarrka School, Northern Territory to Ms Alison Anderson, Member for Macdonnell (Paper 1744).
        Debate continued.
        Extension of time: On the motion of the Member for Arafura (Ms Scrymgour) the Member for Nhulunbuy (Ms Walker) was granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.

        Debate continued.
        Extension of time: On the motion of the Member for Arafura (Ms Scrymgour) the Member for Johnston (Dr Burns) was granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.

        Debate continued.
        Question – put and passed.
    10. ADJOURNMENT:
        The Leader of Government Business (Dr Burns) moved – That the Assembly do now adjourn.
        Debate ensued.
        Papers tabled: Ms Anderson, by leave, laid on the Table the following Papers –
    Letter, Mr Neil Bell to Russell Skelton, The Age Newspaper, dated 2 May 2011 re King Brown Country (Paper 1745);

    Email, John Gaynor, Senior Ministerial Adviser to Member for Macdonnell (Ms Anderson) re sale of whitegoods (Paper 1746); and
      Media Release by Northern Territory Government re Police Investigation Reveals No Wrong doing, dated 13 October 2005 (Paper 1747).

          Debate continued.
          _______________

          Dissent from Speaker’s Ruling: The Deputy Speaker (Ms Walker) in the Chair having asked the Member for Macdonnell (Ms Anderson) to withdraw offensive words -

          Speaker Aagaard assumed the Chair.

          The Member for Port Darwin (Mr Elferink) thereupon moved dissent to the ruling of the Deputy Speaker, which had been submitted in writing to the Deputy Speaker and seconded by the Member for Blain (Mr Mills).
          Debate ensued.

          Suspension of Member: The Member for Macdonnell (Ms Anderson) having previously been warned by the Speaker about using offensive words and unruly interjections and then having continued to loudly interject -
          The Speaker (Mrs Aagaard) thereupon ordered the Member for Macdonnell (Ms Anderson) to withdraw from the Chamber for a period of one hour, pursuant to Standing Order 240A, effective from 6.19pm.
          Accordingly the Member for Macdonnell (Ms Anderson) withdrew from the Chamber.

          Debate resumed on the motion of dissent.
          The Member for Port Darwin (Mr Elferink), by leave of the Assembly, withdrew the motion of dissent.
          _______________

          Debate resumed on the motion – That the Assembly do now adjourn.
          Question - put and passed.
          And the Assembly adjourned at 7.09pm, until Tuesday 27 March 2012 at 10am.
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          PAPERS:
          The following Papers were deemed to have been presented on Thursday, 23 February 2012 –

          Annual Reports
          Commercial Passenger Vehicle Board, 2010/2011 (Paper 1736)
          Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission, 2010/2011 (Paper 1737)
          Surveyors Board of the Northern Territory of Australia, 2010/2011 (Paper 1739)

          Financial Statements:
          Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission – General Purpose Financial Statements, 30 June 2011 (Paper 1738)

          OmbudsmanNT
          Report to the Honourable Daniel Robert Knight, MLA, Minister for Justice and to The Legislative Assembly, Pursuant to Section 64(1) of the Surveillance Devices Act 2007 (Northern Territory) for the period 30 June to 31 December 2011 (Paper 1741)

          Report:
          Enough is Enough Alcohol Reform Report – July 2011 to December 2011 (Paper 1742)

          Utilities Commission:
          Utilities Commission, Review of Electricity System Planning, Market Operation Roles and Structures – Final Report, December 2011 (Paper 1740)
          Utilities Commission, Review of Electricity System Planning, Monitoring and Reporting – Final Report, December 2011 (Paper 1748)
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          ATTENDANCE:
          All Members attended the sittings.




          Ian McNeill
          Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
    Last updated: 04 Aug 2016