Minutes of Proceedings - 2005-10-19
1. MEETING:
2. PRAYERS.
3. PETITIONS:
6. TERRITORY INSURANCE OFFICE AMENDMENT BILL 2005 (Serial 22):
7. COMMUNITY JUSTICE CENTRE BILL 2005 (Serial 20):
9. VETERINARIANS AMENDMENT (FEES AND PENALTIES) BILL 2005 (Serial 25):
10. TELSTRA SALE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE TERRITORY - MOTION AGREED TO:
Ms Dayna Lister, NT Electoral commission,
Ms Susanne Mazlin, Australian Electoral Commission,
Ms Ruth Sheridan, Palmerston High,
Ms Cheryl Burnett, Wulagi Primary School,
Ms Kate Minahan, Curriculum Services,
Ms Jennifer Clue, Curriculum Services,
Ms Julie Andrews, Holy Family School,
Ms Margaret Davis, Darwin High School.
- The Assembly met at 10am. The Speaker, the Honourable J. L. Aagaard, took the Chair.
2. PRAYERS.
3. PETITIONS:
- The Member for Blain (Mr Mills) presented petition No. 7, from 4842 petitioners, requesting a 24 hour emergency medical service be established in Palmerston (Paper 241).
Petition read.
The Member for Greatorex (Dr Lim) presented petition No. 6, from 252 petitioners, requesting a reduction in the noise and air pollution emanating from the Ron Goodin Power Station, Alice Springs (Paper 242).
Petition read.
- The Speaker advised Members of National Democracy Week activities being conducted in Parliament House, today the item is the Statehood Challenge whereby topical questions will be discussed by school students.
- East Arm Wharf Repairs: The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport (Dr Burns) reported on the progress with the East Arm Wharf repairs.
Ms Carney responded thereto.
Dr Burns responded accordingly.
EPA Establishment: The Minister for Natural Resources, the Environment and Heritage (Ms Scrymgour) reported on the establishment of an Environmental Protection Agency for the Territory and appointment of an interim EPA Board.
Mrs Miller responded thereto.
Mr Wood responded thereto.
Ms Scrymgour responded accordingly.
Knowledge Centres and Libraries: The Minister for Local Government (Mr McAdam) reported on Libraries and Knowledge Centres, September 2005.
Paper tabled: Mr McAdam laid on the Table the following Paper -
Dr Lim responded thereto.
Ministerial Reports noted, pursuant to Sessional Order.
6. TERRITORY INSURANCE OFFICE AMENDMENT BILL 2005 (Serial 22):
- The Treasurer (Mr Stirling), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Territory Insurance Act.
Bill read a first time.
Mr Stirling moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
Debate ensued.
Paper tabled: Mr Stirling laid on the Table the following Paper -
On the motion of the Member for Blain (Mr Mills) debate was adjourned.
7. COMMUNITY JUSTICE CENTRE BILL 2005 (Serial 20):
- The Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (Dr Toyne), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to establish the Northern Territory Community Justice Centre, and for related purposes.
Bill read a first time.
Dr Toyne moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
Debate ensued.
Paper tabled: Dr Toyne laid on the Table the following Paper -
On the motion of the Member for Araluen (Ms Carney) debate was adjourned.
- The Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services (Mr Henderson), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Weapons Control Act.
Bill read a first time.
Mr Henderson moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
Debate ensued.
Paper tabled: Mr Henderson laid on the Table the following Paper -
On the motion of the Member for Araluen (Ms Carney) debate was adjourned.
9. VETERINARIANS AMENDMENT (FEES AND PENALTIES) BILL 2005 (Serial 25):
- The Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries (Mr Vatskalis), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Veterinarians Act.
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 -
On the motion of the Member for Katherine (Mrs Miller) debate was adjourned.
10. TELSTRA SALE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE TERRITORY - MOTION AGREED TO:
- The Minister for Communications (Dr Burns), pursuant to notice, moved - That this Assembly:
(a) recognise the need for the immediate injection of capital into the telecommunications infrastructure in the Territory;
(b) call upon the Prime Minister to ensure that the sale of Telstra results in adequate funding for telecommunications infrastructure for the Territory;
(c) more specifically, identify that $265m is needed to bring the Territory’s telecommunications infrastructure up to an acceptable standard;
(d) ask the Prime Minister to consider that the funding sought is essential for the development and economic wellbeing of remote Indigenous communities; and
(e) request the Speaker to forward the terms of this motion and associated debate to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.
- Debate ensued.
Paper tabled: The Minister for Infrastructure and Planning (Dr Burns) laid on the Table the following Paper -
- Debate ensued.
Paper tabled: The Minister for Infrastructure and Planning (Dr Burns) laid on the Table the following Paper -
Debate continued.
The Member for Nelson (Mr Wood) moved the following amendment to the motion -
Omit all words after "Assembly" to and including paragraphs (d) and insert in their stead:
- Call on the Prime Minister to ensure that the sale of Telstra results in adequate funding for Northern Territory telecommunications infrastructure which is essential for the development and wellbeing of all Territorians especially those living in rural and remote areas.
Debate continued.
Debate suspended.
- The Speaker made a statement relating to the presentation of a document at question time on Tuesday 18 October 2005 as follows:
At the start of question time yesterday the Leader of the Opposition, in asking a question of the Chief Minister, produced and sought to table a document relating to her question.
I am advised that in the course of proceedings the paper was not collected and recorded as having been tabled and accordingly I have requested the Clerk to correct the Minutes of Proceedings and the Hansard record of the Assembly accordingly to reflect the formal tabling of this document.
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Suspension of sittings: The sittings of the Assembly was suspended between 11.50am and 2pm.
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- Visitors: The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the Public Galleries of Business Month visitors, eleven army personnel from 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Year 8 to year 11 students from Sanderson High School participating in the Statehood Challenge; and Mrs Anna-Maria Sacilotto, former Northern Territory Honorary Consul for Italy.
On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
Statement by Speaker: The Speaker advised Members of the disorderly nature and difficult circumstances pertaining to interjections made by Members and the applicability of Standing Order 51; and warned that she would be strictly enforcing the rules accordingly.
- The following notices were given:
Mr Vatskalis: To present the Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Amendment Bill 2005 (Serial 26).
Mr McAdam: To present the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Amendment Bill 2005 (Serial 27).
- 2.04pm Ms Carney to Mr Henderson.
2.10pm Ms Anderson to Ms Martin.
2.14pm Ms Carney to Ms Henderson.
Paper tabled: The Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services (Mr Henderson) laid on the Table the following Paper -
2.20pm Mr Knight to Mr Vatskalis.
2.22pm Mrs Miller to Mr Vatskalis.
2.24pm Ms Sacilotto to Mr Stirling.
2.29pm Mr Wood to Ms Scrymgour.
2.35pm Mrs Miller to Ms Lawrie.
2.36pm Mr Kiely to Dr Toyne.
2.37pm Mrs Braham to Mr McAdam.
2.41pm Mr Natt to Ms Lawrie.
2.44pm Ms Carney to Dr Toyne.
2.46pm Mr Warren to Dr Burns.
2.50pm Mr Wood to Ms Martin and referred to Mr McAdam.
2.53pm Mr Bonson to Ms Lawrie.
2.54pm Mr Mills to Mr Henderson.
2.57pm Mrs Braham to Mr McAdam.
3.01pm Ms Anderson to Ms Scrymgour.
Answer to Question: The Minister for Family and Community Services (Ms Lawrie) provided further information in response to a question asked earlier this day by the Member for Katherine (Mrs Miller) re alcohol rehabilitation centre south of Katherine.
The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
- The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate, suspended earlier this day, on the motion relating to the sale of Telstra and telecommunications infrastructure in the Territory and an amendment moved by Mr Wood -
Debate resumed.
The Member for Greatorex (Dr Lim) moved the following amendment to the amendment moved by Mr Wood as follows:
Insert after "on" the words "all the Northern Territory federal members of parliament and".
Debate continued.
Question put - That the amendment moved by Dr Lim to the amendment moved by Mr Wood, be agreed to - put and negatived.
The Member for Nelson (Mr Wood), by leave, withdrew his amendment to the main motion.
Debate continued.
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Visitors: The Deputy Speaker (Mr Kiely) advised Members of the presence in the Public Galleries of participants in the Civics and Citizenship Forum being conducted in Parliament House-
Ms Dayna Lister, NT Electoral commission,
Ms Susanne Mazlin, Australian Electoral Commission,
Ms Ruth Sheridan, Palmerston High,
Ms Cheryl Burnett, Wulagi Primary School,
Ms Kate Minahan, Curriculum Services,
Ms Jennifer Clue, Curriculum Services,
Ms Julie Andrews, Holy Family School,
Ms Margaret Davis, Darwin High School.
The Speaker, on behalf of all Members, extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
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Debate continued.
The Minister for Communications (Dr Burns) moved the following amendment -
That paragraph (d) of my motion be omitted, which read -
- "(d) ask the Prime Minister to consider that the funding sought is essential for the development and economic well being of remote indigenous communities;".
And insert in its stead the following words -
- "(d) call on the Prime Minister to ensure that the sale of Telstra results in adequate funding for Northern Territory telecommunications infrastructure which is essential for the development and wellbeing of all Territorians especially those living in rural and remote areas;" (Paper 262).
Debate continued.
Question - That the amendment moved by Dr Burns be agreed to - put and passed.
Question - That the main motion, as amended, be agreed to - put and passed.
- The Member for Greatorex (Dr Lim) made an explanation of his speech relating comments attributed to him by the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services (Mr Henderson) during debate on the motion on sale of Telstra and telecommunications infrastructure for the Territory, pursuant to Standing Order 54.
- 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.
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 (Dr Toyne) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.
- The Minister for Young Territorians (Ms Scrymgour) made a statement relating to programs and policies to assist Territory youth and develop services for their health and wellbeing.
Ms Scrymgour moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
Debate ensued.
Paper tabled: Ms Scrymgour laid on the Table the following Paper -
- Debate continued.
Question - put and passed.
- The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) moved - That Government Business, Order of the Day, relating to the Ministerial Statement on Building Healthier Communities, be called on forthwith.
Question - put and passed.
- 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.
Question - put and passed.
- The Chief Minister (Ms Martin) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Debate ensued.
Paper tabled: The Treasurer (Mr Stirling) laid on the Table the following Paper -
Debate continued.
Paper tabled: The Member for Blain (Mr Mills), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -
- Debate continued.
Question - put and passed.
The Assembly adjourned at 10.50pm until Thursday 20 October 2005 at 10am.
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PAPERS:
The following Papers were deemed to have been presented on Wednesday 19 October 2005 -
Annual Reports:
Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development 2004/2005 (Paper 261)
Department of the Chief Minister 2004/2005 (Paper 255)
Legislative Assembly Members’ Superannuation Trust 2004/2005 (Paper 257)
Northern Territory Architects Board 2004/2005 (Paper 251)
Northern Territory Government and Public Authorities’ Superannuation Scheme 2004/2005 (Paper 258)
Northern Territory Treasury (includes Community Benefit Committee 2004/2005 (Paper 256)
Northern Territory Treasury Corporation 2004/2005 (Paper 259)
Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment 2004/2005 (Paper 252)
Power and Water Corporation 2004/2005 (Paper 260)
Regulations 2005:
No. 34, Corporations Law Amendment Rules 2005 (Paper 253)
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- ATTENDANCE:
All Members attended the sitting.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016