Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 2010-11-24

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

    2. PRAYERS.

    3. LEAVE OF ABSENCE – MEMBER FOR NELSON:
        The Leader of Government Business (Dr Burns) moved – That leave of absence be granted to the Member for Nelson (Mr Wood) for Wednesday 24 November 2010 and Thursday 25 November 2010.
        Question – put and passed.

    4. PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH BILL 2010 (Serial 135):
        The Minister for Health (Mr Vatskalis), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act about public and environmental health.
        Bill read a first time.
        Mr Vatskalis moved – That the Bill be now read a second time.
        Debate ensued.
        Paper tabled: Mr Vatskalis laid on the Table the following Paper -
        Explanatory Statement, Public and Environmental Health Bill 2010 (Paper 1091).

        On the motion of the Member for Greatorex (Mr Conlan) debate was adjourned.
    5. PENALTIES AMENDMENT (CHIEF MINISTER’S AND OTHER PORTFOLIOS) BILL 2010 (Serial 138):
        The Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (Ms Lawrie), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend penalties in various Acts administered by the Chief Minister and Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services.
        Bill read a first time.
        Ms Lawrie moved – That the Bill be now read a second time.
        Debate ensued.
        Paper tabled: Ms Lawrie laid on the Table the following Paper -
        Explanatory Statement, Penalties Amendment (Chief Minister’s and Other Portfolios) Bill 2010 (Paper 1092).

        On the motion of the Member for Port Darwin (Mr Elferink) debate was adjourned.
    6. WATER AMENDMENT BILL 2010 (Serial 137) – PASS ALL STAGES, THURSDAY 2 DECEMBER 2010 – MOTION AGREED TO:
        Suspension of Standing Orders: The Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage (Mr Hampton), pursuant to notice, moved - That so much of the Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the Water Amendment Bill 2010 (Serial 137), passing through all stages on Thursday 2 December 2010.
        Debate ensued.
        Quorum: The Member for Katherine (Mr Westra van Holthe) drew the attention of the Speaker to the state of the Assembly.
        Bells having been rung and a quorum having been obtained -

        Debate resumed.
        Question – put and passed.

    7. SUPERANNUATION LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2010 (Serial 125):
        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 Noon and 2pm.
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    8. NOTICES:
        The following Notices were given:

        Mr Hampton: To present the Environment Protection (Beverage Containers and Plastic Bags) Bill 2010 (Serial 136).

        Ms Purick: To move –
                That the Northern Territory Minister for Resources direct the NT Mining Board in accordance with its powers under the Mine Management Act to:
    1. report on the history of the extractive industry in the greater Darwin and rural areas including the areas as far south as Hayes Creek, west to Cox Peninsula and east to Marrakai/Mary River/Mt Bundy;
    2. report on the level of supply across the industrial commodities including fine and course sand, gravel, crushed rock, clay, soil, dimensional stone and porcelanite;
    3. investigate and report on the geological context of extractive materials in the above mentioned areas and the future prospects;
    4. investigate and report on current extractive operations in the Top End and Central Australia;
    5. report on resource estimates of known deposits;
    6. investigate on future sources of extractive products for the Greater Darwin regions and Central Australia;
    7. investigate and report on the future threats and challenges to existing and future extractive operations from competitive land uses;
    8. investigate and report on what measures Government is undertaking to ensure a constant supply of extractive materials into the Darwin and central Australian markets at competitive prices;
    9. report on the future of the extractive industry in the Northern Territory including a revision of the extractive minerals programme and extractive minerals policy; and
    10. have the Minister for Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources Table the Mining Board’s report on these matters in the Assembly Chamber by 31 March 2011.

    9. PAIR ARRANGEMENTS FOR WEDNESDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2010 AND THURSDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2010:
        The Speaker laid on the Table an email from the Member for Nelson (Mr Wood) advising of the Pair arrangement for himself whilst on leave, as follows: The Member for Macdonnell (Ms Anderson) paired with the Member for Nelson (Mr Wood) for Wednesday 24 November 2010 and Thursday 25 November 2010 (Paper 1093).

    10. QUESTIONS:
        2.02pm Mr Giles to Mr Henderson.
        2.06pm Ms Walker to Mr Vatskalis.
        2.09pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson and referred to Mr Vatskalis.
        2.13pm Ms Scrymgour to Mr Henderson.
        2.16pm Ms Purick to Mr Vatskalis.
        2.19pm Ms Anderson to Mr Vatskalis.
        2.20pm Mr Gunner to Ms Lawrie.
        Paper tabled: Ms Lawrie laid on the Table the following Paper –
        Letter, Ms Lawrie, Treasurer to Mr Ed Killesteyn PSM, Electoral Commissioner, Australian Electoral Commission, dated 24 November 2010 re inducement to candidate for Lingiari, Mr Leo Abbott (Paper 1094).
          2.23pm Ms Purick to Mr Vatskalis.
          2.25pm Mr Gunner to Dr Burns.
          2.28pm Ms Anderson to Mr McCarthy.
          2.31pm Ms Purick to Mr Vatskalis.
          2.34pm Mr Gunner to Mr Vatskalis.
          2.36pm Ms Purick to Mr Vatskalis.
          2.38pm Ms Anderson to Mr Hampton.
          2.41pm Ms Walker to Mr Henderson.
          2.42pm Ms Purick to Mr Vatskalis.
          2.46pm Ms Purick to Mr Vatskalis, supplementary.
          2.47pm Mr Gunner to Dr Burns.
          2.50pm Ms Purick to Mr Henderson.
          2.54pm Ms Walker to Ms Lawrie.
          2.57pm Ms Purick to Mr Henderson.

          Suspension of Standing Orders: And The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Ms Purick) moved – That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent her censuring the Northern Territory government for its completely incompetent handling of its duties regarding the Montara Oil facilities and other facilities under its command and protection, forthwith.

          The Leader of Government Business (Dr Burns) informed the Assembly that the government accepted the motion as a censure motion, pursuant to Standing Order 95.

          The Leader of Government Business (Dr Burns) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Questions Paper.
      11. CENSURE OF NORTHERN TERRITORY GOVERNMENT - MONTARA OIL FACILITIES – MOTION NEGATIVED:
          The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Ms Purick) moved – That this Assembly censure the Northern Territory government for its completely incompetent handling of its duties regarding the Montara Oil facilities and other facilities under its command and protection, forthwith.
          Debate ensued.
          Question - put.
          The Assembly divided (the Deputy Speaker, Mrs Walker, in the Chair) -

          AYES, 11 NOES, 12

          Mr Bohlin Mrs Aagaard
          Mr Chandler Dr Burns
          Mr Conlan Mr Gunner
          Mr Elferink Mr Hampton
          Mr Giles Mr Henderson
          Mrs Lambley Mr Knight
          Mr Mills Ms Lawrie
          Ms Purick Ms McCarthy
          Mr Styles Mr McCarthy
          Mr Tollner Ms Scrymgour
          Mr Westra van Holthe Mr Vatskalis
          Ms Walker

          Motion negatived accordingly.
      12. SUPERANNUATION LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2010 (Serial 125):
          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.
          Question – put and passed.
          Bill read a second time.
          Leave granted for a motion for the third reading of the Bill to be moved forthwith.
          On the motion of the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (Ms Lawrie) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.
      13. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH – PROPOSED ALCOHOL REFORMS – MINISTERIAL STATEMENT – MOTION TO NOTE STATEMENT:
          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.
          Debate adjourned, it being 5.30pm and General Business being called on, Ms Lawrie to continued her remarks at a later hour – Standing Order 93 and 41A and the business item was listed on the Notice Paper accordingly.
      14. ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, REFERENCE – NATIONAL BROADBAND NETWORK – MOTION NEGATIVED:
          The Member for Braitling (Mr Giles), pursuant to notice, moved -
          That, the Northern Territory Parliament tasks the Environment and Sustainable Development Committee with:
          investigating the state of the current telecommunications services in the Northern Territory in regard to hardware and assesses the intentions of the rollout of the National Broadband network in the Northern Territory;
          investigating the costs of the roll-out of the National Broadband Network;
          identifying the locations the National Broadband Network will be delivered to with the download capabilities and the type of infrastructure utilised;
          analysing the impacts on the Territory regarding the impending changes to the Universal Service Obligation;
          detailing the anticipated costs of residents in differing locations accessing National Broadband Network services in a residential and business capacity across a range of data downloads;
          investigating competitive and technological alternatives to the NBN in delivering high speed broadband across the Territory; and
          reporting back to Parliament by 31 January 2011.
            Debate ensued.
            Question - That the motion be agreed to - put.
            The Assembly divided (the Deputy Speaker, Ms L. Walker, in the Chair) -

            AYES, 11 NOES, 12

            Mr Bohlin Mrs Aagaard
            Mr Chandler Dr Burns
            Mr Conlan Mr Gunner
            Mr Elferink Mr Hampton
            Mr Giles Mr Henderson
            Mrs Lambley Mr Knight
            Mr Mills Ms Lawrie
            Ms Purick Ms McCarthy
            Mr Styles Mr McCarthy
            Mr Tollner Ms Scrymgour
            Mr Westra van Holthe Mr Vatskalis
            Ms Walker

            Motion negatived accordingly.

        15. FIRE AND EMERGENCY AMENDMENT (SMOKE ALARMS) BILL 2010 (Serial 130):
            The Member for Sanderson (Mr Styles), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Fire and Emergency Act.
            Bill read a first time.
            Mr Styles moved – That the Bill be now read a second time.
            Debate ensued.
            On the motion of the Chief Minister (Mr Henderson) debate was adjourned.

        16. SIHIP, PROGRAM DETAILS – MOTION NEGATIVED:
            The Member for Braitling (Mr Giles), pursuant to notice, moved - That the Northern Territory Labor Government:
            1. presents all expenses and commitments to date for the SIHIP program broken down into head office costs, package costs, site costs, and details whether those costs are incurred by departmental expenses, alliance expenses or outsourcing expenses;
            2. in presenting this information also presents details of every location within a prescribed community on the numbers of houses that will be constructed, rebuilt or refurbished and an explanation of the address of each of these properties and also details the numbers of houses or dwellings or other that are to be decommissioned or knocked down or removed and the changes to the numbers of bedrooms in each community whether an increase or decrease; and
            3. explains how the SIHIP program will actually improve the housing situation in Aboriginal communities particularly given the fact that approximately 300 homelands houses have been given up and no longer managed and that the remaining approximately 2200 homeland houses remain uninsured and without appropriate asset management process.

            Debate ensued.

            Question - That the motion be agreed to - put.
            The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. J. L Aagaard, in the Chair) -

            AYES, 11 NOES, 12

            Mr Bohlin Mrs Aagaard
            Mr Chandler Dr Burns
            Mr Conlan Mr Gunner
            Mr Elferink Mr Hampton
            Mr Giles Mr Henderson
            Mrs Lambley Mr Knight
            Mr Mills Ms Lawrie
            Ms Purick Ms McCarthy
            Mr Styles Mr McCarthy
            Mr Tollner Ms Scrymgour
            Mr Westra van Holthe Mr Vatskalis
            Ms Walker

            Motion negatived accordingly.
        17. YUENDUMU TOWNSHIP, FAMILY DISPUTES – MOTION:
            The Member for Braitling (Mr Giles), pursuant to notice, moved - That the Northern Territory Government be condemned for its actions in relation to residents at Yuendumu.
            Debate ensued.
            Debate adjourned pursuant to Standing Order 41(c)(v)).
        18. ADJOURNMENT:
            The Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 41A, at 9pm proposed the question - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
            Debate ensued.
            Paper tabled: Mr McCarthy laid on the Table the following Paper –
            Tennant Creek Relay for Life Sponsors (Paper 1095).

            Debate continued.
            And the Assembly adjourned at 9.52pm until Thursday 25 November 2010 at 10am.
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            PAPERS:
            There were no Papers deemed to have been presented on Wednesday 24 November 2010 -
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            ATTENDANCE:
            All Members attended the sittings, including Mr Wood in the pre luncheon sitting period.
      Last updated: 04 Aug 2016