Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 2006-11-30

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

2. PRAYERS.
    3. PETITIONS:
        The Member for Braitling (Mrs Braham) presented petition No. 51 from 507 petitioners requesting that the proposed development of Lot 7717 Dalgety Road, Alice Springs does not go ahead (Paper 740).
        Petition read.

    4. MINISTERIAL REPORTS:
        Alcohol Restrictions, Alice Springs: The Chief Minister (Ms Martin) reported on the progress of takeaway alcohol restrictions as part of the Alice Springs Alcohol Management Plan implementation.
        Ms Carney responded.
        Mrs Braham responded.

        Road Trauma and Health: The Minister for Health (Dr Burns) reported on the extent of road trauma cases in the Territory and associated statistics.
        Dr Lim responded.
        Mr Wood responded.
        Dr Burns responded.

        Seniors Advisory Board, Appointment: The Minister for Senior Territorians (Ms Scrymgour) reported on the operation of the Seniors Advisory Board.
        Mrs Miller responded.
        Mrs Braham responded.
        Ms Scrymgour responded.

        Ministerial Reports noted, pursuant to Standing Orders.

    5. ORDER OF BUSINESS:
        The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) moved - That Government Business, Notice No. 1 be placed for consideration as the last notice item.
        Question - put and passed.
    6. PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AMENDMENT BILL 2006 (Serial 83):
        The Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (Mr Stirling), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Professional Standards 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 -
    Explanatory Statement, Professional Standards Amendment Bill 2006 (Serial 83) (Paper 742).

        On the motion of the Member for Araluen (Ms Carney) debate was adjourned.
    7. STATUTE LAW REVISION BILL 2006 (Serial 86):
        The Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (Mr Stirling), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to revise and correct the law of the Territory in minor respects and to repeal certain obsolete and redundant laws.
        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 -
    Explanatory Statement, Statute law Revision Bill 2006 (Serial 86) (Paper 743).

        On the motion of the Member for Araluen (Ms Carney) debate was adjourned.

    8. WORK HEALTH AMENDMENT BILL 2006 (Serial 85):
        The Minister for Employment, Education and Training (Mr Henderson), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Work Health 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 -
    Explanatory Statement, Work Health Amendment Bill 2006 (Serial 85) (Paper 754).

        On the motion of the Member for Katherine (Mrs Miller) debate was adjourned.
    9. STATEHOOD STEERING COMMITTEE - AMENDMENT OF TERMS OF REFERENCE - MOTION AGREED TO:
        The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson), by leave, moved - That the terms of reference of the Northern Territory Statehood Steering Committee adopted on 17 August 2004 and amended on 24 March 2005 be further amended by inserting after clause 13 the following new clause 13A -

        "13A. The Minister for Statehood and the Shadow Minister for Statehood may from time to time seek advice or information on Statehood issues from the Office of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly. A copy of any advice or information where prepared by the Office of the Chairman, Statehood Steering Committee, will be tabled at the next Executive Group meeting following the date of its submission to the Clerk."

        Debate ensued.
        Paper tabled: Mr Henderson laid on the Table the following Paper -
    Statehood entities and relationships - November 2006 (Paper 741).

        Question - put and passed.
    10. POISONS AND DANGEROUS DRUGS AMENDMENT BILL 2006 (Serial 74):
        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.
        Paper tabled: The Member for Greatorex (Dr Lim), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -
    Optometrists Therapeutic Prescribing, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (Paper 744).

        Debate continued.
        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 Health (Dr Burns) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.
    11. CHRONIC DISEASES - 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 suspended.
        _____________

        Suspension of sittings: The sittings of the Assembly was suspended between 12.05pm and 2.05pm.
        _____________
        Seasons Greetings: The Speaker extended seasonal greetings to parliamentary staff and Members of the Assembly.

    12. NOTICES:
        The following notices were given -
        Ms Carney: To move - That the House calls upon the Member for Barkly and the Member for Macdonnell to correct the record in respect to allegations they made about the radioactive waste facility so far as they relate to the Northern Land Council and note that the Northern Land Council has written to the Assembly setting out which and in what way those statements made by those Members were false.
        Paper tabled: Ms Carney, by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -
    Letter, Chairman, Northern Land Council re radio active waste debate, false and misleading statement by Member for Barkly and Member Macdonnell, 30 November 2006 (Paper 749).

        Dr Lim: To present the Unit Titles Amendment Bill 2007.
    13. QUESTIONS:
        2.07pm Ms Carney to Dr Burns.
        2.10pm Mr Burke to Ms Martin.
        2.14pm Ms Carney to Dr Burns.
        Paper tabled: Ms Carney, by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -
    Schedule of Police numbers by Police Stations, "Copied of leaked document" (Paper 750).

        Paper tabled: Dr Burns laid on the Table the following Paper -
    Schedule of Police numbers, "from a Police source" (Paper 751).

        2.17pm Mr Kiely to Henderson.
        2.21pm Ms Carney to Dr Burns.
        2.24pm Ms Anderson to Dr Burns.
        2.26pm Mrs Braham to Speaker.
        2.27pm Ms Braham to Mr McAdam.
        2.30pm Ms Carney to Dr Burns.
        2.32pm Mr Hampton to Mr Stirling.
        2.35pm Ms Carney to Dr Burns.
        ______________
        Point of order: And Ms Carney proceeding to ask a question - The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) raised a point of order regarding the authenticity of a paper tabled earlier this day re police numbers -
        Discussion ensued - Members spoke to the point of order.
        Paper tabled: Ms Carney laid on the Table the following Paper -
    Schedule of Police numbers - same as Paper 750 without "copy of leaked document" endorsement (Paper 752).

        Discussion continued - Members spoke to the point of order.
        Suspension of Standing Orders - Negatived: The Leader of the Opposition (Ms Carney) moved - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would allow her to move a motion to censure the Chief Minister (Ms Martin) and Minister for Police (Dr Burns) re police numbers promised by the Government.
        The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) advised that the Government was not going to accept the motion as a motion of censure.
        Debate ensued.
        Question - That Standing Orders be suspended - put and negatived.
        ______________

        2.59pm Mr Hampton to Mr Henderson.

        The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.

    14. CHRONIC DISEASES - STATEMENT NOTED:
        The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the question, suspended earlier this day - That the Assembly take note of the Statement -
        Debate resumed.
        Extension of Time: On the motion of the Member for Brennan (Mr Burke) the Minister for Health (Dr Burns) was granted an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77.

        Debate continued.
        Question - put and passed.
    15. REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SHARING IN TERRITORY PROSPERITY - 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.
        Question - put and passed.
    16. INVASIVE SPECIES AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY, INTERIM PROGRESS STATEMENT - SESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - MOTION TO NOTE STATEMENT:
        The Chairman, Sessional Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development (Mr Warren), by leave, made an Interim Progress Report on Invasive Species and Management Programs, inquiry reference.
        Mr Warren moved - That the Assembly take note of the progress Report.
        Debate ensued.
        On the motion of the Member for Millner (Mr Bonson) debate was adjourned.

    17. MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE - EDUCATION REFORM:
        The Speaker advised the Assembly that the Member for Blain (Mr Mills) had proposed the following definite matter of Public Importance for discussion this day:
            The issue of education reform in the Northern Territory and misused opportunities. The Territory Government initiated an important process that could have and should have resulted in fundamental change and improvement to the quality of education delivered to Territory students. It has failed.
        The proposed discussion having received the necessary support -
        Discussion ensued.
        Discussion concluded.
    18. NEXT MEETING:
        The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) moved - That the Assembly at its rising adjourn until Tuesday 13 February 2007 at 10am or such other time and/or date as may be set by the Speaker, pursuant to Sessional Order.
        Question - put and passed.

    19. ADJOURNMENT:
        The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
        Debate ensued.
        Paper tabled: The Member for Goyder (Mr Warren), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -
    Letter, Mrs Sue Bradley, Co-Chair Statehood Steering Committee to Ms Felicity Hancock, Principal, Humpty Doo Primary School, dated 10 November 2006 re Statehood Education Program (Paper 753).

        Debate continued.
        Question - put and passed.
        And the Assembly adjourned at 8.55pm until Tuesday, 13 February 2007 at 10am, or such other time and/or date as may be advised by the Speaker, pursuant to Sessional Order.
        _________________

        PAPERS:
        The following Papers were deemed to have been presented on Thursday 30 November 2006 -

        Annual Reports:
        AustralAsia Railway Corporation, 2005/2006 (Paper 748)
        Darwin Port Corporation, 2005/2006 (Paper 747)
        Department of the Legislative Assembly, 2005/2006 (Paper 745)
        Tourism NT, 2005/2006 (Paper 746)
    _________________
        ATTENDANCE:
        All Members attended the sitting.
        Ian McNeill
        Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
    Last updated: 04 Aug 2016