Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 2002-10-09

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

2. PRAYERS.

3. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS:
      The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of the Honourable John Gazzola MLC, a Member of the Legislative Council of South Australia, and Mr Brenton Williamson and Mr Lucio Matarazzo.
      On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the distinguished visitors.

4. MINISTERIAL REPORTS:
      Community Cabinet Meetings: The Chief Minister (Ms Martin) made a report on the conduct of Cabinet meetings held in Territory centres and most recently Kalkarindji and Katherine.

      October 2002 Business Month: The Minister for Business, Industry and Resource Development (Mr Henderson) reported on the launch of October 2002 business month as an ideal opportunity to promote small and medium business opportunities for Territorians.
      Mr Maley responded thereto.
      Mr Henderson responded accordingly.

      Motor Sports Complex – Northline Closure: The Minister for Sport and Recreation (Mr Ah Kit) reported on the financial indebtedness of the Motor Sports Club and the Northline Speedway at the Hidden Valley motor sports complex.
      Mr Burke responded thereto.
      Mr Ah Kit responded accordingly.

      Chinese Diplomatic Delegation: The Minister for Ethnic Affairs (Mr Vatskalis) reported on a visit to Darwin of an official delegation from China to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the commencement of diplomatic relations between Australia and China.
      Dr Lim responded thereto.
      Mr Vatskalis responded accordingly.

      Ministerial Reports noted, pursuant to Sessional Order.

5. PAPERS TABLED UNDER FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ACT – MOTION TO NOTE:
      The Order of the Day, Notice No. 1 relating to the motion to take note of the following Papers Tabled, pursuant to the Financial Management Act, was read –
      Variation of Allocation to Activity, various Agencies, pursuant to section 23(1), signed Treasurer, dated 16 May 2002 (Paper 397); and
      Direction – Transfer of excess Allocations between Activities, pursuant to section 20(1)(a), signed Administrator, dated 5 June 2002 (Paper 398).
        The Member for Katherine (Mr Reed) thereupon moved – That consideration of this item of business be postponed until a later hour.
        Question – put and passed.
    6. NATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION PARK FOR DARWIN HARBOUR – MOTION:
        The Member for Nelson (Mr Wood), pursuant to notice, moved - That, Sections 1812, 1813, 1814, 1819 and 1791 Hundred of Ayers excluding the Phillips LNG site are “rezoned OC [Open Space – Conservation]” and included in a future National Marine Conservation Park for Darwin Harbour.
        Ordered: – That debate on this motion be taken as one together with and inclusive of debate for Notices Nos. 3 and 4 (Wickham Point industrial development and East Arm to Glyde Point industrial development). On completion of debate on this motion, the question will be put on Notices Nos. 3 and 4 without further debate.

        Debate ensued.
        Papers tabled: The Member for Nelson (Mr Wood), by leave, laid on the Table the following Papers –
    Map, Land Use Concepts – Proposed Litchfield Planning Concepts and Land Use Objectives (Paper 616); and
    Map of Sections 1812, 1813 1791, 1814, 1817,1847 Wickham Point and Middle Arm (Paper 617).

        Debate continued.
        Paper tabled: The Minister for Transport and Infrastructure (Mr Vatskalis) laid on the Table the following Paper –
    East Arm to Glyde Point, Hundred of Ayers, Sections 1788, 1645, 1670, 1819, 1657 and 1644 (Paper 618).

        Debate continued.
        Debate suspended until a later hour.
        _____________

        Suspension of Sitting: The sitting of the Assembly was suspended between 11.45am and 2pm.
        ______________
    7. NOTICE:
        The following notice was given:
        Dr Toyne: To present the Crown Proceedings Amendment Bill 2002 (Serial 100).
    8. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS:
        The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of Honourable Michaeal Beahan, former President of the Australian Senate; and Mr John Kirwan, Commissioner for Public Employment and his family.
        On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the distinguished visitors.
    9. QUESTIONS:
        2.01pm Mr Reed to Mr Stirling.
        2.04pm Ms Scrymgour to Mr Ah Kit.
        2.09pm Mr Reed to Mr Stirling.
        2.13pm Mr Kiely to Dr Toyne
        2.18pm Ms Carney to Dr Toyne.
        2.21pm Mr Wood to Dr Toyne.
        2.24pm Dr Burns to Mrs Aagaard.
        ______________

        Distinguished visitor: The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the public gallery of Mr Terry McCarthy, former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
        On behalf of all Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the distinguished visitor.
        ______________
        2.27pm Ms Carney to Ms Martin.
        2.29pm Ms Lawrie to Mr Stirling.
        2.34pm Ms Carney to Ms Martin.
        2.38pm Mr McAdam to Ms Martin.
        2.43pm Mr Elferink to Mr Vatskalis.
        2.45pm Mr Bonson to Mr Vatskalis.
        2.48pm Mr Wood to Mr Vatskalis.
        2.51pm Mr Maley to Mr Stirling.
        2.55pm Dr Burns to Mr Vatskalis.
        2.58pm Mr Mills to Mr Stirling.
        3.01pm Mr Bonson to Mr Henderson.

        The Leader of Government Business (Mr Stirling) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
    10. NATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION PARK FOR DARWIN HARBOUR – MOTION NEGATIVED:
        The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate, suspended earlier this day, on the question –
        That, Sections 1812, 1813, 1814, 1819 and 1791 Hundred of Ayers excluding the Phillips LNG site are “rezoned OC [Open Space – Conservation]” and included in a future National Marine Conservation Park for Darwin Harbour.
        Debate resumed.
        Question – put and negatived.
    11. EAST ARM TO GLYDE POINT AND WICKHAM POINT INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS – MOTIONS NEGATIVED:
        The Member for Nelson (Mr Wood), by leave, moved – That the notices of motion No.3 and No.4 relating to Wickham Point and East Arm development be taken together.
        Question put and passed.
        The Member for Nelson (Mr Wood), pursuant to notice and resolution, thereupon moved the following motions together –
        That, the government:

        (a) cease any further industrial development in the Wickham Point area specifically land and sea covered by sections 1812, 1813, 1814, 1819 and 1791 Hundred of Ayers excluding the Phillips LNG site; and

        (b) initiate a public assessment of alternative industrial development sites in the Darwin region, eg along the proposed corridor from East Arm to Glyde Point.

        The Member for Brennan (Mr Burke), by leave, moved the following amendment -
        Omit all words after “That” and insert –
            “the government initiate a public assessment of alternative industrial development sites in the Darwin region, eg along the proposed corridor from East Arm to Glyde Point, and

            while that assessment is occurring the government cease any further industrial development in the Wickham Point area specifically land and sea covered by sections 1812, 1813, 1814, 1819 and 1791 Hundred of Ayers excluding the Phillips LNG site.”.
        Debate ensued.
        Paper tabled: The Minister for Transport and Infrastructure (Mr Vatskalis) laid on the Table the following Paper -
    Map, Land Use Concepts, East Arm to Glyde Point, dated 20 August 2002 (Paper 629).

        Debate continued.
        Question - That the amendment be agreed to - put.
        The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. L. M. Braham, in the Chair) -

        AYES, 12 NOES, 13

        Mr Baldwin Mrs Aagaard
        Mrs Braham Mr Ah Kit
        Mr Burke Mr Bonson
        Ms Carney Dr Burns
        Ms Carter Mr Henderson
        Mr Dunham Mr Kiely
        Mr Elferink Ms Lawrie
        Dr Lim Ms Martin
        Mr Maley Mr McAdam
        Mr Mills Ms Scrymgour
        Mr Reed Mr Stirling
        Mr Wood Dr Toyne
        Mr Vatskalis

        Amendment negatived accordingly.
        Question – That the motion be agreed to – put and negatived
    12. CASUARINA COASTAL RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN – PAPER NOTED:
        The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Elferink), pursuant to notice, moved - That the Assembly take note of the Casuarina Coastal Reserve Management Plan tabled on 14 August 2002.
        Debate ensued.
        Mr Elferink, by leave, moved the following amendment –
        Add at the end of the motion -

            “the Assembly refer the Casuarina Coastal Reserve Plan to the Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Environment so that the safety issues raised in the Assembly today may be properly addressed and that the plan be returned to the Assembly at a later time for consideration.”.

        Debate continued.
        Question – That the amendment be agreed to –put and negatived.
        Debate continued on the main motion – That the Assembly take note of the Paper.
        Question – That the motion be agreed to – put and passed.
    13. EDUCATION AND HEALTH EXPENDITURE – MOTION, AS AMENDED, AGREED TO:
        The Member for Brennan (Mr Burke), pursuant to notice, moved –
        That this House express its concern at the deliberate misleading of Territorians about how much of their money will be spent by the government, in particular, in such vital areas as education and health and calls on the government to –
          1. apologise to Territorians for spending at least $60,000 of taxpayers’ money on brochures, advertisements etc that do not represent the true picture about how much money is being spent on such items as education and health;
          2. acknowledge that the headline figures they have used are inflated by the use of book entries such as depreciation and state taxes - for example $527 million for health and $505 million for education have been inflated by more than $46 million for depreciation and more than $18 million in state taxes; and
          3. commit to publishing along with future budgets a transparent set of figures and an easily understood document that explains exactly to Territorians what the government will spend and on what.

        Debate ensued.
        Paper tabled: The Member for Brennan (Mr Burke), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper –
    Advertisement, Delivering for Today Investing for Tomorrow, NT News August 2002 (Paper 630).
        Debate continued.
        The Chief Minister (Ms Martin) moved the following amendment –
        Omit all words after “deliberate misleading of Territorians” and insert in their stead -

        “….by successive CLP Governments which failed to promptly introduce accrual reporting and budgeting in line with national standards thereby deceiving Territorians as to the true cost of the delivery of government services, and calls on the government to:


          1. continue the process of financial reform in coming years as envisaged under the “working for outcomes” plan;

          2. subject to the economic and social conditions faced by Territorians, continue the deficit reduction strategy as announced by the government at the time of the Mini-Budget in November 2001;

          3. continue to improve the budget documents and other reports of government and to inform Territorians appropriately of major policy initiatives decided by government on their behalf.”.

        Debate ensued.
        Question - That the amendment be agreed to - put.
        The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. L. M. Braham, in the Chair) -

        AYES, 13 NOES, 11

        Mrs Aagaard Mr Baldwin
        Mr Ah Kit Mr Burke
        Mr Bonson Ms Carney
        Dr Burns Ms Carter
        Mr Henderson Mr Dunham
        Mr Kiely Mr Elferink
        Ms Lawrie Dr Lim
        Ms Martin Mr Maley
        Mr McAdam Mr Mills
        Ms Scrymgour Mr Reed
        Mr Stirling Mr Wood
        Dr Toyne
        Mr Vatskalis

        And so it was resolved in the affirmative.
        Amendment agreed to.
        Question – That the motion, as amended, be agreed to – put and passed.

    14. POLICE RESOURCES REVIEW – MOTION NEGATIVED:
        The Member for Brennan (Mr Burke), pursuant to notice, moved –
        That this House call on the government to urgently establish an independent review of police resources in view of the information revealed during the Estimates Committee hearing that:
          1. the government has cut the actual numbers of police rather than increasing them as promised during the election campaign and since;
          2. the government is only committed to having 799 police by June next year when there were 811 in June 2001;
          3. there were only 761 sworn officers on August 31 this year compared to 811 in June 2001 (according to the Police, Fire and Emergency Services Annual Report 2000-01);
          4. the government does not plan to exceed the numbers that existed on June 30 2001 for another two years;
          5. the target outlined by the police minister of 830 police by June 2005 is an increase of 20 on the strength of 811 in June 2001 whereas the government has promised an increase of 50;
          6. the government’s figures are based on an annual attrition rate of about 8 per cent a year (about 200 police over the next three years) and its recruitment policy will add only 219;
          7. 50 police of the rank of constable or above left in 2001-02 and only 27 were recruited to replace them;
          8. Alice Springs is short 16 police officers which along with leave, rostered days off etc leave it down by 54 officers on any day; and,
          9. at least 12 other stations are presently under strength.
          10. $2.8 million of carryover funding is part of the claimed increased budget for police;
          11. increased salary costs such as superannuation is part of the increased money provided to police to make the community safer;
          12. the police budget has been cut by more than $2 million since the Mini-Budget; and
          13. the headline figure for the amount of money to be spent on actual policing this year includes book entries of $6.8 million for depreciation and $6.1 million for state taxes; and

        Further, calls on the minister to explain the contradiction between his evidence given before the Estimates Committee that the police force is well under strength and the Commissioner’s reported comments that it is at strength.

        Debate ensued.
        Papers tabled: The Member for Brennan (Mr Burke), by leave, laid on the Table the following Papers –
    Human Resources and Training, Police staff by gender as at 30 June 2001 (Paper 632); and
    Graph, Police recruitment versus strength, July 2002 to June 2005 (Paper 631).

        Debate continued.
        Question - That the motion be agreed to - put.
        The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. L. M. Braham, in the Chair) -

        AYES, 11 NOES, 13

        Mr Baldwin Mrs Aagaard
        Mr Burke Mr Ah Kit
        Ms Carney Mr Bonson
        Ms Carter Dr Burns
        Mr Dunham Mr Henderson
        Mr Elferink Mr Kiely
        Dr Lim Ms Lawrie
        Mr Maley Ms Martin
        Mr Mills Mr McAdam
        Mr Reed Ms Scrymgour
        Mr Wood Mr Stirling
        Dr Toyne
        Mr Vatskalis

        Motion negatived accordingly.
    15. ESTIMATES COMMITTEE PROCESS, REVIEW PANEL – REFERENCE TO STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE – MOTION, AS AMENDED, AGREED TO:
        The Member for Brennan (Mr Burke), pursuant to notice, moved –
        That,
        1. the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory establishes a review panel comprising the Speaker, Chief Minister, Leader of the Opposition and the Member for Nelson to review the Estimates Committee process.

        2. the review panel takes into account, the following matters:
          (a) retention of one Estimates Committee;

          (b) Estimates Committee hearings be conducted outside designated parliamentary sitting days;

          (c) allocation of a full sitting day for each Minister, with the provision that the next Minister be called on if the preceding Minister finishes before his/her allocated time;

          (d) the Estimates Committee sits between 9 am and 11.30pm each day;

          (e) questions may be put to each Minister as,
        Written questions prior to the hearings of the Estimates Committee;
        Questions without notice; and
        Supplementary questions,
          (f) all written answers be provided to members of the Legislative Assembly at least three days prior to the hearings of the Estimates Committee with the relevant Minister;

          (g) all questions and answers to be read into the Hansard;

          (h) generic questions across all agencies and outputs be given precedence over other questions;

          (i) questions of a similar nature asked by individual members be grouped; and

          (j) Standing Orders relating to relevance of answers by ministers be clearly defined specifically for the Estimates Committee.

        3. the review panel report to parliament by the sittings of February 2003.

        Debate ensued.
        The Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services (Mr Stirling) moved – the following amendment –
        Omit all words after “That” and insert in their stead –
            “(a) the Estimates Committee model utilised in September 2002 be referred to the Standing Orders Committee for review and identification of options for enhancement of the Estimates Committee process;

            (b) the committee in its deliberations investigate all viable processes to enhance the carriage of the deliberations of the Estimates Committee including but not restricted to those issues raised in paragraph 2 of the Leader of the Opposition’s motion of 9 October 2002; and

            (c) the Standing Orders Committee report to parliament during the February 2003 sittings.”.

        Debate resumed.
        Amendment agreed to.
        Motion, as amended, agreed to.

    16. PUBLIC ACCOUNTS AND ESTIMATES COMMITTEE BILL 2002 (Serial 45):
        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 –
        On the motion of the Member for Port Darwin (Ms Carter) debate was adjourned.
    17. VOLUNTEERS PROTECTION BILL 2002 (Serial 76):
        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 ensued.
        Question – put and negatived.
    18. STAMP DUTY AMENDMENT BILL 2002 (Serial 75):
        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 ensued.
        Question – put and negatived.
    19. JURIES AMENDMENT BILL 2002 (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 ensued.
        Ordered that the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (Dr Toyne) have leave to continue his remarks at a later hour.
        Debate adjourned.

    20. ILLICIT DRUGS USE – MINISTERIAL STATEMENT – MOTION TO NOTE STATEMENT:
        The Minister for Health and Community Services (Mrs Aagaard) made a statement relating to illicit drug use in the Territory and recommendations contained in the Report of the Taskforce on Illicit Drugs.
        Mrs Aagaard moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
        Debate ensued.
        Ordered that the Member for Drysdale (Mr Dunham) have leave to continue his remarks at a later hour.
        Debate adjourned.
    21. ADJOURNMENT:
        The Minister for Business, Industry and Resource Development (Mr Henderson) moved – That the Assembly do now adjourn.
        Debate ensued.
        Question – put and passed.
        And the Assembly adjourned at 11.48pm on Wednesday 9 October 2002 until Thursday 10 October at 10am.
        PAPERS:
        The following Papers were deemed to have been presented on Wednesday 9 October 2002:

        Annual Report:
        Lands and Mining Tribunal, 2001/2002 (Paper 621)

        Financial Statements:
        Auditor-General’s Report to the Trustees, Legislative Assembly Members’ Superannuation Trust, year ended 30 June 2002 (Paper 619)
        Auditor-General’s Report to the Treasurer, Northern Territory Government and Public Authorities Employees’ Superannuation Fund, year ended 30 June 2002 (Paper 620)

        Regulations 2002:
        No. 34, Amendments of Port By-Laws (Paper 622)
        No. 35, Amendments of Legal Practitioners Regulations (Paper 623)
        No. 36, Amendment of Taxation (Administration) Regulations (Paper 624)
        No. 37, Amendment of First Home Owner Grant Regulations (Paper 625)
        No. 38, Amendments of Pay-roll Tax Regulations (Paper 626)
        No. 39, Amendments of Motor Vehicles Regulations (Paper 627)
        No. 40, Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading (Infringement Notices) Regulations (Paper 628)

        ATTENDANCE
        All Members attended the sittings.
    Last updated: 04 Aug 2016