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Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

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Minutes of Proceedings - 2005-08-17

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

2. PRAYERS.

3. PETITIONS:
      The Member for Nelson (Mr Wood) presented petition No. 2, from 247 petitioners praying that the majority of detached family home lots in the suburb of Lyons be 800 square metres or more (Paper 167).
      Petition read.

      The Member for Nelson (Mr Wood) presented petition No. 3 from 325 petitioners, praying for more green open space in the Darwin CBD for new residents and the Darwin Public (Paper 168).
      Petition read.

4. MINISTERIAL REPORTS:
      Darwin Cup Carnival 2005: The Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing (Mr Stirling) reported on the conduct of the Darwin Cup Carnival and associated funding arrangements and racing industry business.
      Mr Mills reported thereto.
      Mr Stirling responded accordingly.

      Seniors Month: The Minister for Senior Territorians (Ms Scrymgour) reported on the increasing benefit of the Seniors Card, its increasing use and benefit to senior Territorians.
      Mrs Miller responded thereto.
      Mrs Braham responded thereto.
      Ms Scrymgour responded accordingly.

      Multicultural Affairs Scholarship Program: The Minister for Multicultural Affairs (Mr Vatskalis) reported on sponsorship of Scholarship Program and Awards.
      Dr Lim responded thereto.
      Mr Vatskalis responded accordingly.

      Ministerial Reports noted, pursuant to Sessional Order.
5. SELECT COMMITTEE ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN THE COMMUNITY - APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERSHIP AND TERMS OF REFERENCE - MOTIONS AGREED TO:
      The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson), by leave, moved the following motions together:
    MEMBERSHIP

      That,

      (1) A committee to be known as the Select Committee on Substance Abuse in the Community be appointed in accordance with the terms of reference circulated to members, as below:

      (2) The membership of the Select Committee on Substance Abuse in the Community comprise three government members, two members of the opposition and one independent member nominated to the Speaker;

      (3) The following members, unless otherwise ordered, be appointed to the Select Committee on Substance Abuse in the Community:
          Ms A Anderson, Ms K Sacilotto, Mr R Knight, Mrs F Miller, Mr T Mills and Mrs L Braham; and

      (4) The committee shall elect a government member as Chairman.

    TERMS OF REFERENCE
      1. The Select Committee on Substance Abuse in the Community be empowered, unless otherwise ordered, to inquire into and report on the issue of substance abuse in the community, in particular:
      (a) ascertain community concern about the use and abuse of licit and illicit substances;
        (b) current trends in the use and abuse of licit and illicit substances in the Northern Territory and, as far as possible, taking into account regional, age, gender, other demographic characteristics and ethnic factors;
          (c) the social and economic consequences of current patterns of substance abuse with special reference to the wellbeing of individuals and communities and to the demands placed upon government and non-government services;
            (d) the services currently available within the Northern Territory by both government and non-government agencies to deal with issues directly or indirectly related to substance abuse;
              (e) factors which directly affect the level and nature of substance abuse in the Northern Territory community or parts of that community, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing:
                            (i) the accessibility/availability of licit and illicit substances within communities;

                            (ii) the demographic and ethnic structure of the Northern Territory;

                            (iii) the correlation between socio-economic conditions and substance abuse; and
                (f) appropriate policies and services for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse in the Northern Territory.
                      2. The committee or any subcommittee be empowered to send for persons, papers and records, to sit in public or in private session notwithstanding any adjournment of the Assembly, to adjourn from place to place and have leave to report from time to time its proceedings and the evidence taken and make such interim recommendations as it may deem fit, and to publish information pertaining to its activities from time to time.
                        3. The Chairman of the committee may, from time to time, appoint another member of the committee to be deputy chairman of the committee, and that the member so appointed act as Chairman of the committee at any time when there is no Chairman or the Chairman is not present at a meeting of the committee.
                          4. The Committee have power to appoint subcommittees consisting of two or more of its members and to refer to any such subcommittee any matter which the committee is empowered to examine and that the quorum of a subcommittee shall be two.
                            5. The Committee be empowered to publish from day to day such papers and evidence as may be ordered by it, and, unless otherwise ordered by the committee, a daily Hansard be published of such proceedings as take place in public.
                              6. The Committee be empowered to consider, disclose and publish the minutes of proceedings, evidence taken and records of the former committee of the 9th Assembly and the former committee on the Use and Abuse of Alcohol by the Community in previous Assemblies.
                                7. The foregoing provisions of the resolution, so far as they are inconsistent with Standing Orders, have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the Standing Orders.
                                Question - put and passed.
                                Motions agreed to.

                            6. MAGISTRATES AMENDMENT BILL 2005 (Serial 15):
                                The Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (Dr Toyne), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Magistrates Act.
                                Bill read a first time.
                                Dr Toyne moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
                                Debate ensued.
                                Explanatory Statement: Dr Toyne laid on the Table an Explanatory Statement relating to the Magistrates Amendment Bill 2005 (Serial 15) (Paper 169).
                                On the motion of the Leader of the Opposition (Ms Carney) debate was adjourned.
                                _______________

                                Visitors: The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the public gallery of local, interstate and overseas visitors as part of the Parliament House Public Tour Program.
                                On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
                            7. INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AGENDA OF COMMONWEALTH - MOTION:
                                The Minister for Public Employment (Dr Burns), pursuant to notice, moved - That this Assembly:

                                (a) express its concern with the Commonwealth Government’s industrial relations legislative agenda;

                                (b) call upon the Prime Minister to give a categorical assurance that no Territory worker will be worse off as a result of the Commonwealth’s planned industrial relations legislation;

                                (c) call upon the Commonwealth Government to consult with the Northern Territory Government regarding the proposed legislation;

                                (d) call upon the Commonwealth Government not to reduce the jurisdiction of the independent umpire, the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC);

                                (e) call upon the Northern Territory Members of the House of Representatives and Senate to oppose and vote against legislation that reduces the working conditions of Territorians; and

                                (f) through the office of the Speaker, 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 in the Commonwealth Parliament. (Paper 171)
                                Debate ensued.
                                Debate suspended.
                                _______________

                                Suspension of sittings: The sittings of the Assembly was suspended between 11.51am and 2pm.
                                _______________

                                Visitors: The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the public and Speaker's Galleries of visitors from the Evergreen Seniors Group, the Tuesday Seniors Club, Senior Citizens from the Brennan electorate, Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales and Victoria.
                                On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.

                            8. NOTICES:
                                The following notice was given:
                                Mr Wood: To present the Law of Property Amendment (Sales of Residential Property) Bill 2005 (Serial 13).
                            9. QUESTIONS:
                                2.01pm Mr Mills to Mr Stirling.
                                _______________

                                Leave of absence: The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson), by leave, moved - That the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (Dr Toyne) be granted leave of absence for the balance of this day due to ill health.
                                Question - put and passed.
                                _______________
                                2.05pm Mr Bonson to Dr Burns.
                                2.10pm Mr Mills to Mr Stirling.
                                2.13pm Mr Burke to Dr Burns.
                                2.18pm Mr Mills to Mr Stirling.
                                2.21pm Ms Sacilotto to Mr Stirling.

                                Paper tabled: The Treasurer (Mr Stirling) laid on the Table the following Paper -
                            REINT (Real Estate Institute of the Northern Territory) analysis of real estate market 2004/2005 (Paper 172).

                                2.24pm Mr Wood to Mr Stirling.
                                2.26pm Ms McCarthy to Mr Stirling.
                                2.29pm Mr Mills to Mr Stirling.
                                2.31pm Mr Natt to Mr McAdam.
                                2.36pm Dr Lim to Dr Burns and referred to Ms Lawrie.
                                2.41pm Mrs Braham to Ms Scrymgour.
                                2.44pm Mr Mills to Ms Lawrie.
                                2.47pm Mr Knight to Mr Vatskalis.
                                2.49pm Mr Mills to Ms Lawrie.
                                2.51pm Mr Warren to Ms Scrymgour.
                                2.54pm Mr Wood to Mr Stirling.
                                2.56pm Mr Knight to Ms Lawrie.
                                2.59pm Mrs Braham to Mr Henderson.
                                3.02pm Mr Natt to Mr Stirling.

                                Answer to Question: The Minister for Employment, Education and Training (Mr Stirling) provided a response to a question from the Member for Blain asked earlier this day relating to teachers and costs of employment.

                                The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
                            10. INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AGENDA OF COMMONWEALTH - MOTION AGREED TO:
                                The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the motion, suspended earlier this day -
                                That this Assembly -

                                (a) express its concern with the Commonwealth Government’s industrial relations legislative agenda;

                                (b) call upon the Prime Minister to give a categorical assurance that no Territory worker will be worse off as a result of the Commonwealth’s planned industrial relations legislation;

                                (c) call upon the Commonwealth Government to consult with the Northern Territory Government regarding the proposed legislation;

                                (d) call upon the Commonwealth Government not to reduce the jurisdiction of the independent umpire the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC);

                                (e) call upon the Northern Territory Members of the House of Representatives and Senate to oppose and vote against legislation that reduces the working conditions of Territorians; and

                                (f) through the office of the Speaker, 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 in the Commonwealth Parliament.

                                Debate resumed.
                                _______________

                                Extension of time: The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) moved - That the Member for Nelson be granted an extension of time, pursuant to Sessional Order.
                                Question - put and passed.
                                _______________

                                Debate continued.
                                _______________

                                Extension of time: The Leader of Government Business (Mr Kiely) moved - That the Member for Johnston be granted an extension of time, pursuant to Sessional Order.
                                Question - put and passed.
                                _______________

                                Debate continued.
                                Question - put and passed - motion agreed to.
                            11. BATCHELOR INSTITUTE OF INDIGENOUS TERTIARY EDUCATION AMENDMENT BILL 2005 (Serial 8):
                                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 Employment, Education and Training (Mr Stirling) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.
                            12. CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY AMENDMENT BILL 2005 (Serial 9):
                                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 Employment, Education and Training (Mr Stirling) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.
                            13. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES REFORM - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - STATEMENT NOTED:
                                The Minister for Family and Community Services (Ms Lawrie) made a statement relating to the government's progress in improving mental health services to Territorians and new initiatives to be implemented this financial year.
                                Ms Lawrie moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
                                Debate ensued.
                                Question - put and passed.
                            14. ADJOURNMENT:
                                The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
                                Debate ensued.
                                Papers tabled: The Member for Araluen (Ms Carney), by leave, laid on the Table the following Papers -
                            Golf for Breast Cancer Day 2005 (Paper 175); and
                            Sporting grant assistance to non-indigenous children, Mr Paul Lelliott, Alice Springs News, dated 27 July 2005 (Paper 174).

                                Debate continued.
                                Question - put and passed.
                                The Assembly adjourned at 8.54pm until tomorrow at 10am.

                                PAPERS:
                                The following Papers were deemed to have been presented on Wednesday 17 August 2005 -
                                Financial Statement:
                                Cobourg Peninsula Sanctuary and Marine Park Board, dated 6 December 2004, Auditor-General’s Report to the Minister for Parks and Wildlife (Paper 173)
                            _________________

                                ATTENDANCE:
                                All Members attended the sitting, except Dr Toyne on leave for part of the day.
                            Last updated: 04 Aug 2016
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