Minutes of Proceedings - 2005-03-24
1. MEETING:
The Assembly met at 9.30am. The Speaker, the Honourable L. M. Braham, took the Chair.
2. PRAYERS.
3. PETITIONS:
5. TREASURER'S REPORT ON FISCAL OUTCOMES OF MEETING WITH AUSTRALIAN STATE TREASURERS AND FEDERAL TREASURER - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - MOTION TO NOTE STATEMENT:
11. CENSURE THE CHIEF MINISTER AND GOVERNMENT - GST FUNDING - MOTION NEGATIVED:
13. AUDITOR-GENERAL'S FEBRUARY 2005 REPORT TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY - REPORT NOTED:
14. OMBUDSMAN'S ANNUAL REPORT 2003/2004 - REPORT NOTED:
17. NEXT MEETING:
The Assembly met at 9.30am. The Speaker, the Honourable L. M. Braham, took the Chair.
2. PRAYERS.
3. PETITIONS:
- The Member for Stuart (Dr Toyne) presented a petition from 410 petitioners relating to funding for recruitment and retention of Northern Territory teachers and educators (Paper 1685).
Petition read.
The Member for Katherine (Mrs Miller), by leave, presented a petition not conforming with Standing Orders from 36 petitioners relating to EBA negotiations with teachers (Paper 1684).
Petition read.
Paper tabled: The Member for Katherine (Mrs Miller), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -
- Tourism Charter Flights to Alice Springs from Japan: The Chief Minister (Ms Martin) reported on the successful negotiations with the Nippon Travel Agency to bring two Charter flights to Alice Springs in May 2005 and proposed additional Charter flights for July and August 2005 from Japan.
Mr Mills responded thereto.
Ms Martin responded accordingly.
Apprenticeships and Training, Central Australia: The Minister for Employment, Education and Training (Mr Stirling) reported on the extent of training in traditional trade apprenticeships and workplace training in Central Australia.
Dr Lim responded thereto.
Mr Stirling responded accordingly.
Cavanagh Crescent land zoning, Alice Springs: The Minister for Lands and Planning (Dr Burns) reported on proposed rezoning of Lot 7573 Cavanagh Crescent from rural living to denser residential allotments, Alice Springs.
Mineral Exploration, Australian Road Show: The Minister for Mines and Energy (Mr Vatskalis) reported on a Territory Minerals Exploration Road Show delegation promoting the Territory petroleum and mineral exploration opportunities to business leaders and investors in Australia.
Mrs Miller responded thereto.
Mr Vatskalis responded accordingly.
Ministerial Reports noted, pursuant to Sessional Order.
5. TREASURER'S REPORT ON FISCAL OUTCOMES OF MEETING WITH AUSTRALIAN STATE TREASURERS AND FEDERAL TREASURER - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - MOTION TO NOTE STATEMENT:
- Suspension of Standing Orders: The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) moved - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the Treasurer making a statement to the Assembly relating to the outcomes of his meeting in Canberra yesterday with the Federal Treasurer and Treasurers from other jurisdictions.
Question - put and passed - there being an absolute majority of the whole number of Members present and no dissentient voice.
The Treasurer (Mr Stirling) thereupon made a statement relating to his meeting with Australian Government and Australian States Treasurers held in Canberra on 23 March 2005 at the Treasurers Conference.
Mr Stirling moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
Debate ensued.
On the motion of the Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) debate was adjourned.
- The Member for Barkly and Chairman of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee (Mr McAdam) moved - That the terms of reference of the Northern Territory Statehood Steering Committee adopted on 17 August 2004 be amended by inserting after Clause 5 the following new Clause 5A -
- 5A. Continuance of Administrative Function
- (1) Despite Clauses 4 and 5, members of the Statehood Steering Committee who are not Members of the Legislative Assembly continue in office until the Assembly first meets following prorogation of the Assembly.
(2) The members who continue in office under subclause (1) may carryout the administrative functions of the Statehood Steering Committee and any other activities of the Statehood Steering Committee previously authorised by the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, but must not carry out any other functions or activities.
Debate ensued.
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 Report -
Debate resumed.
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Suspension of sittings: The sittings of the Assembly was suspended between 11.52am and 1.30pm.______________
- The Member for Braitling (Mrs Braham) corrected a statement made last night in regard to the composition of a selection panel for the position of General Manager of the Alice Springs Hospital in which it was asserted - "…… that there were only two people on the panel who interviewed the candidate, and that both were referees.".
Mrs Braham advised that there were, in fact, three members on the panel, none of whom were referees.
Mrs Braham apologised to the Assembly for the misleading statement and to the Darwin-based panel members concerned.
- The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) moved - That leave of absence be granted to the Member for Arafura (Ms Scrymgour) for this day due to ill health.
Question - put and passed.
- 1.32pm Mr Elferink to Ms Martin.
1.35pm Ms Lawrie to Ms Martin.
1.37pm Mr Elferink to Ms Martin.
1.41pm Mrs Aagaard to Mr Henderson.
1.45pm Mr Wood to Dr Burns.
1.47pm Ms Carney to Ms Martin.
1.53pm Mr Bonson to Mr Stirling.
The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Burke) in moving a motion to suspend so much of Standing Orders as would allow him to move a motion to censure the Chief Minister and the government -
The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) informed the Assembly that the Government accepted the motion as a censure motion, pursuant to Standing Order 95.
The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
11. CENSURE THE CHIEF MINISTER AND GOVERNMENT - GST FUNDING - MOTION NEGATIVED:
- The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Burke) thereupon moved - That the Assembly censure the Chief Minister and her Government for:
(a) failing Territorians by not using the enormous benefit that has been provided by the GST funding from the Commonwealth totalling $600 million over the term of this Labor government to strengthen and build the economy of the NT;
(b) allowing the NT to fall behind the rest of the country such that Territorians have missed out on the economic boom that has been enjoyed by the rest of the nation;
(c) levying the highest ever tax on Territorians at the same time as receiving the GST money that was intended to relieve the inefficient state tax burdens that every Territorian carries; and
(d) failing to put in place one significant piece of infrastructure to strengthen the economy of the NT including not even building one school during the term of office.
Debate ensued.
The Treasurer (Mr Stirling) moved - That the question be now put - put and passed.
Question - That the motion be agreed to - put and negatived.
- The Minister for Health (Dr Toyne) made an explanation correcting his statement made 23 March 2005 in the debate on the Alice Springs Hospital in which he wrongly attributed the fire audit of the Alice Springs Hospital to Mr Paul Herrick when in fact it was Mr Bruce Mouatt.
13. AUDITOR-GENERAL'S FEBRUARY 2005 REPORT TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY - REPORT NOTED:
- The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate, suspended earlier this day, on the question - That the Assembly take note of the Report -
Debate resumed.
Extension of time, denied: The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Elferink) moved a motion for an extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 77, for the Member for Drysdale (Mr Dunham).
A majority of the Assembly not being obtained, on the voices, an extension of time was denied.
Debate continued.
Question - put and passed.
14. OMBUDSMAN'S ANNUAL REPORT 2003/2004 - REPORT NOTED:
- The Order of the Day having been read for the resumption of debate on the question - That the Assembly take note of the Report -
Debate resumed.
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.
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 Housing (Mr Ah Kit) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.
- The Chief Minister (Ms Martin) presented the Report of the Ombudsman for the Northern Territory relating to administrative actions of government authorities. (Paper 1681)
Ms Martin moved - That the Report be printed.
Question - put and passed.
Ms Martin made a statement relating thereto.
Ms Martin moved - That the Assembly take note of the Report.
Debate ensued.
Leave granted for the Member for Macdonnell (Mr Elferink) to continue his remarks at a later hour - Debate adjourned.
17. NEXT MEETING:
- The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) moved - That the Assembly at its rising adjourn until Tuesday 3rd May 2005 at 10am or such other time and /or date as may be set by Madam Speaker, pursuant to Sessional Order.
Question - put and passed.
- The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) moved – That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Debate ensued.
Paper tabled: The Member for Nightcliff (Mrs Aagaard), by leave, presented the following Paper -
Debate continued.
Question – put and passed.
The Assembly adjourned at 6.35pm, until Tuesday 3 May 2005 at 10am or such other time and /or date as may be set by Madam Speaker, pursuant to Sessional Order.
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- PAPERS:
The following Paper was deemed to have been presented Thursday 24 March 2005 –
Regulations 2005:
No. 6 Amendment of Agents Licensing Regulations (Paper 1683)
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- ATTENDANCE:
All Members attended the sitting except Ms Scrymgour, on leave.
- Ian McNeill
Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016