Minutes of Proceedings - 2009-10-12
- 1. MEETING:
The Assembly met at 10am. The Speaker, the Honourable J. L. Aagaard, took the Chair.
2. PRAYERS.
3. MEDIA COVERAGE AND BROADCASTING OF PARLIAMENTARY SITTINGS – STATEMENT BY SPEAKER:
- The Speaker made a statement relating to the changed media coverage of the parliamentary sittings due to the recent improvements in filming provided by new camera equipment and streaming of sound and vision using web stream technology.
Paper tabled: The Speaker laid on the Table the following Paper –
- The Speaker laid on the Table the following Message from the Administrator -
Message No. 12
Assent to Proposed Laws
I, Thomas Ian Pauling, AO QC the Administrator of the Northern Territory of Australia, advise the Legislative Assembly of, pursuant to section 7 of the Northern Territory (Self-Government Act) 1978 of the Commonwealth, the assent to the following proposed laws:
1 September 2009
Assembly Members and Statutory Officers (Remuneration and Other Entitlements) Amendment Act 2009 (Act No 27 of 2009)
Cancer (Registration) Act 2009 (Act No 24 of 2009)
Care and Protection of Children Amendment Act 2009 (Act No 23 of 2009)
Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Amendment Act 2009 (Act No 26 of 2009)
Statute Law Revision Act 2009 (Act No 25 of 2009)
Dated 14 September 2009.
Thomas Ian Pauling, AO QC
Administrator (Paper 489)
- The Member for Brennan (Mr Chandler) presented Petition No. 24 from 306 petitioners requesting that the Environment Protection Agency of the Northern Territory be independent and report directly to the Parliament (Paper 490).
Petition read.
Responses to Petitions: The Clerk, pursuant to Standing Order 100A tabled responses to Petitions Nos. 15, 17, 19, 22 and 23 relating to respectively; Birthing Services at Tennant Creek Hospital, Royal Darwin Hospital Review of systems and procedures and Acute Care Services, Traditional Owner’s Control of country without the Central Land Council, Rural Nurse Connie Smith – reinstatement and Unincorporated areas of Marrakai, Leaning Tree Lagoon and Mt Bundy be excluded from any form of Super-Shire or Council; and advised Members that the terms of the responses would be included in the Hansard record and placed on the Assembly website (Paper 491).
- The Speaker laid on the Table her Warrant for the appointment of Deputy Chairmen of Committees as follows:
W A R R A N T
Speaker
(Paper 493)
- The Leader of Government Business (Dr Burns), by leave, moved –
- That, Standing Order 77 – Motion for adjournment of the Assembly to close the business of the day – be amended to read:
- "Each Member 10 minutes”.
_________________
Visitors: The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the Public Gallery of Darwin Middle School Year 7 students accompanied by Ms Tara Kapoor and Ms Carly Doyle and on behalf of all Members extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
_________________
Debate continued.
Question – put and passed.
8. STANDING ORDERS - ADJOURNMENT OF THE ASSEMBLY – MOTION AGREED TO:
- The Leader of Government Business (Dr Burns), by leave, moved – That Standing Order 41A(a) be amended by – Omitting 10.00pm and inserting in its stead 10.30pm.
Question – put and passed.
- The Leader of Government Business (Dr Burns), by leave, moved –
- That, Standing Order 96A, Ministerial Reports and Standing Order 90, item (3) be rescinded.
Question – put and passed.
- 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 11.58am and 2pm.
_____________________
11. NOTICES:
- The following notices were given:
- Mr Henderson: To present the Assembly Members and Statutory Officers (Remuneration and Other Entitlements) Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2009 (Serial 67).
Mr Henderson: To move - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent a Bill entitled –
- Assembly Members and Statutory Officers (Remuneration and Other Entitlements) Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2009 (Serial 67) passing through all stages on Thursday 22 October 2009.
Ms Lawrie: To present the Construction Industry Long Service Leave and Benefits Amendment Bill 2009 (Serial 58).
Ms Lawrie: To present the Revenue Units Bill 2009 (Serial 64).
Ms Carney: To move - That, the Territory Government:
- 1. Take direct and decisive action to address law and order issues in Alice Springs;
2. Establish crime reduction targets for each year for the next five years and resource police and put in place the appropriate laws to ensure that such reductions are met;
- 3. Establish a Police Citizens Youth Club in Alice Springs, and that it be located in the Larapinta area;
- 4. Strengthen the Youth Justice Act to ensure that more Parental Responsibility Agreements and Orders are made and acted upon;
- 5. Change the hours of the availability of alcohol so that all takeaway alcohol is sold from 10.00am.
- 1. In recognition of the failure to invest in areas of social and sporting infrastructure, move immediately to upgrade facilities at Anzac Oval by demolishing the existing canteen and viewing area and replace it with a modern canteen, toilets, change rooms, and grandstand so that it meets the needs of local sporting clubs; and
- 2. Ensures that Anzac Oval is a first class facility that will meet local and tourism needs for use in various community events, such as the Masters Games opening and closing ceremonies, concerts, sporting activities as part of show casing the Territory and what we have to offer.
Ms Carney: To move - That the Territory Government:
- 1. Build a roundabout at Larapinta Drive and Lovegrove Drive Alice Springs, to be completed by the middle of 2010; and
2. Note that failure to construct a roundabout will continue to see local motorists exposed to unnecessary danger.
- 1. The Assembly acknowledge ongoing problems with some public housing tenants who continue to interfere with the quiet enjoyment of others by anti-social behaviour; and
2. The Chief Minister show his support for Alice Springs by addressing public housing issues, including providing more public housing, and improve eviction processes for public housing tenants who breach the terms of their leases.
Mr Giles: To present the Criminal Code Amendment Bill 2009 (Serial 68).
Mr Giles: To present the Traffic Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2009 (Serial 69).
Mr Giles: To present the Traffic Amendment Bill (No. 3) 2009 (Serial 70).
Mr Conlan: To move – That this Assembly,
- 1. Acknowledge that Central Australians must have access to best practice cancer care and treatment; and
2. Call on the Territory Government to ensure that Central Australians continue to have choice in accessing oncology services and support.
Mr Conlan: To move – That,
- 1. The Northern Territory Government immediately address the issues identified in the 2005 Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment special schools audit of Acacia Hill School and resolve with urgency the non compliant items listed in the audit; and
2. The Northern Territory Government develop a masterplan for construction of a purpose built special education facility in Alice Springs.
- 2.06pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
2.09pm Mr Gunner to Mr Henderson.
2.12pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
2.15pm Ms Scrymgour to Mr Henderson.
Paper tabled: Mr Henderson laid on the Table the following Paper –
- 2.18pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
2.22pm Mr Wood to Knight.
2.25pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
2.28pm Ms Walker to Ms Lawrie.
2.31pm Ms Purick to Mr Knight.
Paper tabled: Mr Knight laid on the Table the following Paper –
2.38pm Mr Wood to Mr Knight and referred to Mr Vatskalis.
2.39pm Ms Purick to Ms Lawrie.
2.45pm Mr Gunner to Ms Lawrie.
2.48pm Mr Wood to Mr Vatskalis.
2.50pm Ms Scrymgour to Mr Hampton.
2.53pm Ms Purick to Mr Knight.
2.56pm Ms Walker to Mr Vatskalis.
2.58pm Ms Purick to Mr Knight.
3.01pm Mr Gunner to Dr Burns.
The Leader of Government Business (Dr Burns) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
13. CRIMINAL CODE AMENDMENT (BUSHFIRES) BILL 2009 (Serial 54):
- 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.
14. GROWING THE TERRITORY – MINISTERIAL STATEMENT – MOTION TO NOTE STATEMENT:
- The Chief Minister (Mr Henderson) made a statement relating to the Territory’s fast population growth and challenges of accommodating this growth within the Territory Economy.
Mr Henderson moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
Debate ensued.
Paper tabled: The Chief Minister (Mr Henderson), by leave, laid on the Table the following Papers –
Debate continued.
Paper tabled: The Member for Brennan (Mr Chandler), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper –
Debate continued.
Extension of time: On the motion of the Member for Sanderson (Mr Styles) the Member for Brennan (Mr Chandler) was granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Debate continued.
Paper tabled: The Member for Brennan (Mr Chandler), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper –
Debate continued.
Extension of time: On the motion of the Member for Brennan (Mr Chandler) the Member for Nelson (Mr Wood) was granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Debate continued.
On the motion of the Minister for Housing (Mr Knight) debate was adjourned.
- The Speaker advised the Assembly that the Member for Braitling (Mr Giles) had proposed the following definite Matter of Public Importance for discussion this day:
- The status of Indigenous Housing in the Northern Territory and resolution of the current situation and future needs.
- The proposed discussion having received the necessary support -
Discussion ensued.
_____________________
Suspension of Standing Orders – Censure Government re Indigenous Housing: The Member for Braitling (Mr Giles) moved – That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent him moving a motion to censure the government for its handling of Indigenous Housing in the Territory.
The Leader of Government Business (Dr Burns) moved – That the government would not be accepting the motion to suspend Standing Orders.
Question - That the motion be agreed to - put.
The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. J. L Aagaard, in the Chair) -
AYES, 12 NOES, 12
Ms Anderson Mrs Aagaard
Mr Bohlin Dr Burns
Ms Carney Mr Gunner
Mr Chandler Mr Hampton
Mr Conlan Mr Henderson
Mr Elferink Mr Knight
Mr Giles Ms Lawrie
Mr Mills Ms McCarthy
Ms Purick Mr McCarthy
Mr Styles Ms Scrymgour
Mr Tollner Mr Vatskalis
Mr Westra van Holthe Ms Walker
Tellers: Mr Gunner, Government Whip
- Ms Carney, Opposition Whip
Determination of tied division: The Speaker advised Members that – There being an equality of votes the result of the division is resolved in the negative, pursuant to section 27(1) of the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978.
Motion negatived accordingly.
__________________
Discussion continued.
Discussion concluded.
- The Leader of Government Business (Dr Burns) moved – That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Debate ensued.
And the Assembly adjourned at 10.27pm until Tuesday, 13 October 2009 at 10am.
_________________
- PAPERS:
The following Papers were deemed to have been presented on 12 October 2009 –
Annual Reports
Batchelor Institute Indigenous Tertiary Education, 2008 (Paper 494)
Environment Protection Authority, 2008/2009 (Paper 496)
Workplace Health and Safety Advisory Council, 2008/2009 (Paper 497) Financial Statements
Batchelor Institute Indigenous Tertiary Education Financial Statements, 2008 (Paper 495)
Police Administration Act
Northern Territory Police Force Territory Duty Superintendent Consent Agreement 2009, dated 28 May 2009 (Paper 498)
Regulations 2009
No. 27, Supreme Court Amendment (Paper 500)
No. 28, Fisheries Amendment (Aquarium Fishing/Display Fishery Licence) (Paper 501)
No. 29, Geothermal Energy (Paper 502)
No. 30, Traffic Amendment (Paper 503)
No. 31, Legislative Assembly (Powers and Privileges) (Paper 504)
No. 32, Assembly Members and Statutory Officers (Remuneration and Other Entitlements (Paper 505)
Rules 2009
No. 10, Supreme Court Amendment (Costs and Master’s Authority) (Paper 499)
_________________
- ATTENDANCE:
All Members attended the sittings.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016