Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 2003-05-29

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

    2. PRAYERS.

    3. MINISTERIAL REPORTS:
        Alice Springs Sittings 2003: The Chief Minister (Ms Martin) reported on the conduct of the sittings of the Assembly in Alice Springs.
        Mr Burke responded thereto.

        Bullying in the Workplace: The Minister for Employment, Education and Training (Mr Stirling) reported on the assessment of workplace bullying in the public service by the Office of the Public Service Commissioner.
        Mr Mills responded thereto.
        Mr Stirling responded accordingly.

        Crime Prevention Councils, Regional: The Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (Dr Toyne) reported on the formation of an additional three councils, Darwin, Nhulunbuy and Yolgnu communities.
        Mr Maley responded thereto.

        Mental Health Services: The Minister for Health and Community Services (Mrs Aagaard) reported on the extent of the need for increased mental health services in the Territory.
        Ms Carter responded thereto.
        Mrs Aagaard responded accordingly.

        Ministerial Reports noted, pursuant to Sessional Order.
    4. QUORUM OF THE ASSEMBLY – STATEMENT BY SPEAKER:
        The Speaker (Mrs Braham) made a statement relating to an emerging practice of Members to call attention of the lack of a quorum of the Assembly to the Speaker inappropriately and the contravention of Standing Orders by some Members who leave the Chamber at the time of a call to the Chair to note the lack of a quorum.
    5. POISONS AND DANGEROUS DRUGS AMENDMENT BILL 2003 (Serial 159):
        The Minister for Health and Community Services (Mrs Aagaard), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Poisons and Dangerous drugs Act.
        Bill read a first time.
        Mrs Aagaard moved – That the Bill be now read a second time.
        Debate ensued.
        On the motion of the Member for Port Darwin (Ms Carter) debate was adjourned.
    6. APPROPRIATION BILL 2003/2004 (Serial 147) and BUDGET RELATED PAPERS REFERRED TO ESTIMATES COMMITTEE – MOTION AGREED TO:
        The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson), pursuant to notice, moved - That pursuant to paragraph 5 of the Order of the Assembly dated 27 February 2003 the following Budget Papers 2003/2004 together with the Appropriation Bill 2003-2004 (Serial 147) be referred to the Estimates Committee for inquiry and report:
      Budget Paper No. 1 – Budget Speech, 2003/2004;
      Budget Paper No. 2 – Fiscal and Economic Outlook, 2003/2004;
      Budget Paper No. 3 – The Budget, 2003/2004;
      Budget Paper No. 4 – Capital Works Program, 2003/2004;
      Budget Overview, 2003/2004;
      Northern Territory Economy 2003/2004
      Building Territory Business 2003/2004;
      Regional Highlights, 2003/2004; and
      Northern Territory Economy Overview, May 2003.

          Question – put and passed.

      7. APPROPRIATION BILL 2003/2004 (Serial 147):
          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 Araluen (Ms Carney), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper –
      Women in the Budget 2003/2004, References to [17 only and 8 are headings or footnotes] (Paper 918).

          Debate continued.
          Ordered that Ms Lawrie have leave to continue her remarks at a later hour.
          Debate adjourned.
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          Suspension of sittings: The sittings of the Assembly was suspended between 11.56am and 2pm.
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      8. NOTICES:
          The following notices were given -
          Mr Wood: To move - That the government legislate for fixed 4-year parliamentary terms for elections of the Legislative Assembly.

          Mr Wood: To move - That the duplication of the Stuart Highway between Noonamah and Cox Peninsula Road, as mentioned in the 2003/2004 Budget, should proceed in the following two stages –
                  (a) relocation, realignment or burial of the water pipeline alongside the existing highway; and

                  (b) continue duplication of the Stuart Highway on the eastern side of the existing highway,

                  so that the Strauss World War II airstrip is not used as part of the duplication of the Stuart Highway.

          Mr Wood: To move - That the government –
                  (a) withdraw the proposed new Litchfield area plan and zoning map using zones taken from the draft Northern Territory Planning Scheme;

                  (b) replace it with a Litchfield area plan and zoning map using zones presently defined in the 1992 Litchfield Area Plan, and

                  (c) notify all landowners individually whose land will be rezoned under the new Litchfield area plan before it is declared.

      9. QUESTIONS:
          2.01pm Mr Burke to Ms Martin.
          2.03pm Mr McAdam to Mr Henderson.
          Papers tabled: The Minister for Business,, Industry and Resource Development (Mr Henderson) laid on the Table the following Papers –
      Yellow Pages, Northern Territory telephone book,, extract, advertisement for Criminal Law business – Withnall and Maley (Paper 922); and
      White Pages, Northern Territory telephone book, extract Peter Maley, solicitor, telephone number (Paper 921).
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      Visitors: The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of students from St Mary’s Primary School and on behalf of all Members extended a warm welcome to the visitors.
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      2.07pm Mr Burke to Ms Martin
      Paper tabled: The Member for Brennan (Mr Burke), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper –
      Public Service airline travel, Paul Tyrrell (Paper 919).

          2.12pm Mr Kiely to Dr Toyne.
          2.14pm Mr Baldwin to Mr Vatskalis.
          2.16pm Mr Bonson to Mrs Aagaard.
          2.19pm Mr Wood to Mr Vatskalis.
          2.20pm Mr Dunham to Mr Vatskalis.
          2.23pm Mr Scrymgour to Mr Stirling.
          Paper tabled: The Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing (Mr Stirling) laid on the Table the following Paper -
      Letter, Mr Peter Allen, Chairman Northern Territory Licensing Commission, to Mr Travis Morgan, dated 29 May 2003 re Moo Joose advertisement (Paper 920).

          2.27pm Mr Dunham to Mr Vatskalis.
          2.30pm Ms Lawrie to Dr Toyne.
          2.34pm Mr Burke to Mr Stirling.
          2.40pm Ms Scrymgour to Dr Burns.
          2.44pm Mr Burke to Mr Stirling.
          2.48pm Mr Wood to Ms Martin.
          2.49pm Mr Kiely to Mr Henderson.
          2.55pm Mr Reed to Mr Vatskalis.
          2.57pm Mr Reed to Mr Vatskalis.
          Paper tabled: The Member for Katherine (Mr Reed), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper –
      Federal Road Funding 2003/2004, by States (Paper 923).

          The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
      10. STATEMENT OF CORPORATE INTENT 2003/2004 AND REVISED STATEMENT OF CORPORATE INTENT FOR 2002/2003 FOR POWER AND WATER AUTHORITY – PAPERS TABLED – MOTION, TO REFER PAPER TO GOVERNMENT OWNED CORPORATIONS SCRUTINY COMMITTEE – MOTION AGREED TO:
          The Treasurer (Mr Stirling) laid on the Table a Statement of Corporate Intent 2003/2004 and a Revised Statement of Corporate Intent for 2002/2003 for the Power and Water Authority (Papers 924 and 925 respectively).
          Mr Stirling made a statement relating thereto.
          Mr Stirling moved – That pursuant to paragraph 1 of the Order of the Assembly dated 27 February 2003 establishing the Government Owned Corporations Scrutiny Committee that the activities, performance, practices and financial management of the Power and Water Corporation with reference to the Statement of Corporate Intent for 2003/2004 be referred to the Government Owned Corporations Scrutiny Committee for examination and report, pursuant to resolution of the Assembly dated 27 February 2003.
          Debate ensued.
          Question – put and passed.
      11. APPROPRIATION BILL 2003/2004 (Serial 147):
          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.
          Distinguished Visitors: The Speaker advised Members of the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of Mr Ross William Jugamarra, President, Julalikari Council, Tennant Creek and Mr Joe Gumbula from Galiwinku and on behalf of all Members extended a warm welcome to the distinguished visitors.
          Debate continued.
          On the motion of the Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) debate was adjourned.
      12. NEXT MEETING:
          The Leader of Government Business (Mr Henderson) moved – That the Assembly at its rising adjourn until Tuesday 17 June 2003 at 10am or such other time and/or place as may be set by Madam Speaker, pursuant to Sessional Order.
          Question – put and passed.

      13. ADJOURNMENT:
          The Minister for Business, Industry and Resource Development (Mr Henderson) moved – That the Assembly do now adjourn.
          Debate ensued.
          Paper Tabled: The Member for Greatorex (Dr Lim), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper –
      Tail docking, Docked Breed List (Paper 926).

          Debate continued.
          Question – put and passed.
          And the Assembly adjourned at 9.23pm on Thursday 29 May 2003 until Tuesday 17th June 2003 at 10 am or such other time and/or date as may be set by Madam Speaker, pursuant to Sessional Order.
          PAPERS:
          The following Papers were deemed to have been presented on Thursday 29 May 2003:

          Financial Management Act:
          Transfer of Excess Allocations, pursuant to section 20, signed by Treasurer, dated 28 May 2003 (Paper 917)

          Regulations 2003:
          No. 29, Amendments of Port By-Laws (Paper 916)

          ATTENDANCE
          All Members attended the sittings.

          Ian McNeill
          Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
    Last updated: 04 Aug 2016