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Minutes of Proceedings - 1999-10-19

Eighth Assembly First Session 12/10/1999 Parliamentary Record No. 19
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Date : 19/10/1999
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1. MEETING:
    The Assembly met at 10.00 h. The Speaker, the Honourable T R McCarthy, took the Chair.

2. PRAYERS.

3. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS:
    The Speaker (Mr McCarthy) drew attention to the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of Mr Roger Ryan, former Member for Millner; Dr Goff Letts, former Member for Victoria River; Mr Milton Ballantyne, former Member for Nhulunbuy; Mr Dave Pollock, former Member for Macdonnell; and Mr Roger Steele, former Member for Ludmilla and Speaker of the Assembly.
    On behalf of honourable Members, the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the distinguished visitors.

4. LEAVE OF ABSENCE:
    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Palmer) moved – That leave of absence be granted to the Member for Millner (Mr Mitchell) for Tuesday 19 October 1999 to Thursday 21 October 1999, inclusive, due to his attendance on government business interstate, on behalf of a Minister.
    Question – put and passed.

5. PETITION:
    No. 34 - The Member for Fannie Bay (Ms Martin) presented a petition from 360 petitioners requesting the Assembly to correct the proposed new Planning Act to ensure Territorians have similar rights as other Australians in relation to planning issues (Paper 1531).
    Petition read.

6. NOTICES:
    The following notices were given:
    Mr Adamson: To present the Northern Territory Employment and Training Authority Bill 1999 (Serial 192).
    Mr Adamson: To present the Northern Territory Employment and Training Authority (Consequential Amendments) Bill 1999 (Serial 193).
    Mr Baldwin: To present the Sale of NT TAB Bill 1999 (Serial 195).
    Mr Baldwin: To present the Totalisator Licensing and Regulation Bill 1999 (Serial 196).
    Mr Baldwin: To present the Racing and Betting Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1999 (Serial 197).
    Mr Baldwin: To present the Racing and Betting Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 194).
    Mr Manzie: To present the Mining Amendment Bill 1999 (Serial 191).

7. QUESTIONS:
    10:03 Ms Martin to Mr Burke.
    10:13 Mr Poole to Mr Baldwin.
    10:18 Mr Henderson to Mr Dunham.
    Paper tabled: The Member for Wanguri (Mr Henderson), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper –
Report by Dr Green MB BS FACEM, dated 26 February 1999 (Paper 1532).
    10:22: Mr Mills to Mr Burke.
    10:26 Mr Henderson to Mr Dunham.
    10:31 Mr Balch to Mr Adamson.
    10:34 Mr Stirling to Mr Dunham.

    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Palmer) asked that further questions be placed on the Question Paper and that the parliamentary broadcast be discontinued forthwith.

8. CENSURE - MINISTER FOR HEALTH, FAMILY AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES – MOTION NEGATIVED:
    Suspension of Standing Orders: The Member for Wanguri (Mr Henderson) moved – That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent me moving a motion to censure the Minister for Health for the crisis at the Royal Darwin Hospital accident and emergency unit.
    The Leader of Government Business (Mr Palmer) informed the Assembly that the Government would, pursuant to Standing Order 95, accept the motion as a censure motion.

    The Member for Wanguri (Mr Henderson) thereupon moved – That this Assembly censure the Minister for Health, Family and Children’s Services (Mr Dunham) for:
      (a) failing to adequately respond to the crisis at the Royal Darwin Hospital Accident and Emergency Unit;

      (b) putting patient care at risk by failing to adequately resource the Accident and Emergency Unit;

      (c) placing staff, both medical and nursing, under immense pressure as they continue to provide care with too few staff, inadequate supervision, lack of basic equipment and an appalling physical facility; and

      (d) the unacceptable delay in the construction of a new Accident and Emergency Facility (Paper 1533).

    Debate ensued.
    The Minister for Health, Family and Children’s Services (Mr Dunham) moved – That the question be now put.
    Question – That the question be now put – put.
    The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. T. R. McCarthy, in the Chair) -

    AYES, 15 NOES, 7

    Mr Balch Mr Ah Kit
    Mr Baldwin Mr Henderson
    Mrs Braham Mrs Hickey
    Mr Burke Ms Martin
    Mr Dunham Mr Rioli
    Mr Elferink Mr Stirling
    Mr Hatton Mr Toyne
    Dr Lim
    Mr Lugg
    Mr Manzie
    Mr Mills
    Mr Palmer
    Mr Poole
    Mr Reed
    Mr Stone

    And so it was resolved in the affirmative.
    Question - That the motion be agreed to - put.
    The Assembly divided (the Speaker, Hon. T. R. McCarthy, in the Chair) -

    AYES, 7 NOES, 16

    Mr Ah Kit Mr Balch
    Mr Henderson Mr Baldwin
    Mrs Hickey Mrs Braham
    Ms Martin Mr Burke
    Mr Rioli Mr Dunham
    Mr Stirling Mr Elferink
    Mr Toyne Mr Hatton
    Dr Lim
    Mr Lugg
    Mr McCarthy
    Mr Manzie
    Mr Mills
    Mr Palmer
    Mr Poole
    Mr Reed
    Mr Stone

    Motion negatived accordingly.
9. FOUNDATIONS FOR OUR FUTURE – FOSTERING PARTNERSHIPS IN ABORIGINAL DEVELOPMENT – MINISTERIAL STATEMENT – STATEMENT NOTED:
    The Chief Minister (Mr Burke) made a statement relating to the fostering of partnerships in Aboriginal Development (Paper 1534).
    Paper tabled: Mr Burke laid on the Table the following Paper –
Foundations for Our Future of the Northern Territory - Foster Partnerships in Aboriginal Development by the Northern Territory Government (Paper 1535).

    Mr Burke moved – That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
    Debate ensued.
    ____________________

    Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 11:56 h and 14:00 h.
    ____________________

    Debate resumed.
    Papers tabled: The Minister for Resource Development (Mr Manzie) laid on the Table the following Papers –
Chapter 3 - The Community, Aboriginal Communities and the Land – CLP Policy Platform (Paper 1543); and
Aboriginal Mining Enterprise Task Force, Annual Report 1998 (Paper 1549).

    Debate continued.
    Question – put and passed.
10. 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST FULLY ELECTED LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY - STATEMENT BY SPEAKER:
    Distinguished visitors: The Speaker advised honourable Members of the presence on the floor of the Chamber of Members of the First Legislative Assembly as follows:
Honourable Bern Kilgariff AM, OAM – former Member for Alice Springs;
Mr Ian Tuxworth – former Member for Barkly;
Honourable Nick Dondas AM – former Member for Casuarina;
Senator the Honourable Grant Tambling – former Member for Fannie Bay;
Honourable James Robertson – former Member for Gillen;
Honourable Paul Everingham AO – former Member for Jingili;
Honourable Roger Steele – former Member for Ludmilla;
Mr Dave Pollock – former Member for Macdonnell;
Mr Roger Ryan – former Member for Millner;
Ms Dawn Lawrie – former Member for Nightcliff;
Mr Milton Ballantyne – former Member for Nhulunbuy;
Mr Marshall Perron – former Member for Stuart Park;
Mr Hyacinth Tungatalum – former Member for Tiwi; and
Honourable Goff Letts CBE – former Member for Victoria River.
    On behalf of all honourable Members the Speaker extended a warm welcome to those distinguished former Members and their guests.

    Mr Speaker extended a warm welcome to all of the guests for this evening‘s celebrations – former Administrator the Honourable Austin Asche and Dr Asche – former Members and staff of this Assembly and its predecessor the Legislative Council and the spouses and guests of current Members and staff and all other distinguished guests.

    The Speaker (Mr McCarthy) advised honourable Members that today marked the 25th Anniversary of the election of the First Legislative Assembly and that he had received messages of congratulations and best wishes from:
The Prime Minister, the Honourable John Howard, MP (Paper 1546);
The President of the Senate, Senator the Honourable Margaret Reid (Paper 1547); and
The Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government, Senator the Honourable Ian Macdonald (Paper 1548).
    The Speaker advised the Assembly that copies of these messages would be incorporated in Hansard and circulated to all honourable Members and guests.

11. 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF ELECTION OF THE FIRST FULLYELECTED LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY – MOTION AGREED TO:
    The Chief Minister (Mr Burke), by leave, moved - That this Assembly –

    (a) notes that this day marks the 25th anniversary of the election of the First Legislative Assembly establishing fully representative parliamentary democracy in the Northern Territory;

    (b) records its appreciation for the work of all Members of the First Assembly - in particular for the role they played in:
        (i) the reconstruction of Darwin after Cyclone Tracy;
        (ii) the development of a constitutional framework for responsible Cabinet Government and Self-Government; and
          (iii) establishing a sound foundation for continuing constitutional development towards Statehood;
      (c) honours the memory of deceased Members of the First Assembly:
          Elizabeth Jean Andrew;
              Rupert James Kentish;
              John Leslie Stuart MacFarlane;
          Ronald John Withnall; and
      (d) records the clear determination that the next 25 years will be marked by an increased capacity for sustaining the historic responsibilities established by Members of the First Assembly (Paper 1545).

      Debate ensued.
      Question – put and passed.
    12. ADJOURNMENT:
      The Leader of Government Business (Mr Palmer) moved – That the Assembly do now adjourn.
      Debate ensued.
      Question – put and passed.
      And the Assembly adjourned at 17:50 h until 10:00 h on Wednesday 20 October 1999.

      PAPERS:
      The following Papers were deemed to be presented on Tuesday 19 October 1999 –

      Annual Reports:
      Ayers Rock Resort, 1998/99 (Paper 1541)
      Department of Local Government, 1998/99 (Paper 1537)
      Department of Sport and Recreation, 1998/99 (Paper 1536)
      Heritage Advisory Council, (Eighth), 1998/99 (Paper 1542)
      Northern Territory Correctional Services, 1998/99 (Paper 1535)
      Northern Territory Treasury, 1998/99 (Paper 1539)
      Northern Territory Treasury Corporation, 1998/99 (Paper 1540)
      Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment, 1998/99 (Paper 1538)

      Financial Statement:
      Menzies School of Health Research, Iain Summers, Auditor General for the Northern Territory to the Honourable Stephen Dunham, Minister for Health, Family and Children's Services, dated 14 September 1999 (Paper 1544)

      ATTENDANCE:
      All Members attended the sitting except Mr Mitchell, on leave.
    Last updated: 04 Aug 2016
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