Department of the Legislative Assembly, Northern Territory Government

Minutes of Proceedings - 1995-10-19

Seventh Assembly First Session 17/10/1995 Parliamentary Record No. 16
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Date : 19/10/1995
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1. MEETING:
    The Assembly met at 10.00 a.m., pursuant to adjournment. The Speaker, the Honourable T.R. McCarthy, took the Chair.

2. PRAYERS.

3. PERSONAL EXPLANATION:
    The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mrs Hickey), pursuant to Standing Order 57, made a personal explanation relating to a document produced by the group Women of the Barkly and comments made by the Chief Minister (Mr Stone) during Question Time on Wednesday 18 October 1995.
4. VISITORS:
    The Speaker (Mr McCarthy) drew the attention of Honourable Members to the presence in the gallery of Associate Diploma students from Batchelor College Community-based Access Programme and their lecturer Mr Mark Ford; and Years 5, 6, and 7 students from Moil Primary School and their teacher Mr Russell Cropley and Principal Mr Paul Hill.
      On behalf of Honourable Members, the Speaker extended a warm welcome to the visitors.

5. PERSONAL EXPLANATION:
The Chief Minister (Mr Stone), pursuant to Standing Order 57, made a personal explanation relating to a question asked by the Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling) concerning a newspaper interview with The Age on 2 October 1995.

6. QUESTIONS:
    Questions were asked of Ministers.
      Paper tabled: The Chief Minister (Mr Stone) laid on the Table the following Paper -

      Letter, Maggie Hickey, MLA, Deputy Leader of the Opposition re report on the Beijing Womens forum 1995 - A Personal Account, dated 10 October 1995 (Paper 2018).

      A further question was asked of a Minister.
    Paper tabled: The Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -

      Situation Report, Kardu Numida (OLSH) Health Service, dated 18 October 1995 (Paper 2019).

      Further questions were asked of Ministers.

    Paper tabled: The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mrs Hickey), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -

    Page 405
      Letter, Kate Carnell, MLA, Chief Minister, Minister for Health and Community Care, Australian Capital Territory to Ms Maggie Hickey, MLA, Member for Barkly, dated 6 October 1995 (Paper 2020).

    A further question was asked of a Minister.
    Paper tabled: The Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -

    Article, A Southern Chief Up North The Age, dated 2 October 1995 (Paper 2021).

    A further question was asked of a Minister.
    Papers tabled: The Member for Arafura (Mr Ah Kit), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -
      Letter, Mr Tom Dickson, Manager, Jet Electrics Pty Ltd to Ozone Glass Design Pty Ltd, dated 21 December 1993 (Paper 2022); and

      Quote No. O. G. 0713-R1 to Meldrum Burrows, Attention Mr Robert Drewes, dated 5 August 1993 (Paper 2023).
    Supplementary answers: The Chief Minister (Mr Stone) gave a supplementary answer to a question asked by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Ede) this day.
    Paper tabled: Mr Stone laid on the Table the following Paper -
      Letter, Hon P. J. Keating, MP, Prime Minister to Ms Lois ODonohoe CBE AM, Chairperson, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, undated (Paper 2024).

    Mr Stone gave a further supplementary answer to a question asked by the Member for Nelson (Mrs Padgham-Purich) earlier this sittings.
7. AUDITOR-GENERALS OFFICE, ANNUAL REPORT, 1994-95 ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE OFFICE - PAPER TABLED - PAPER PRINTED - MOTION TO NOTE PAPER:
    The Speaker laid on the Table the Northern Territory Auditor-Generals Annual Report on the Performance of the Office for the Year ended 1994-95 (Paper 2045).
      The Treasurer (Mr Reed) moved - That the Report be printed.
      Question - put and passed.
      Mr Reed moved - That the Assembly take note of the Paper.
      Ordered - That Mr Reed have leave to continue his remarks at a later hour.
8. HYDRO-GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MAPPING - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - STATEMENT NOTED:
    The Minister for Power and Water (Mr Burke) made a statement relating to the use of hydro-geological survey mapping to assist in landcare and the adoption of sustainable property management practices (Paper 2025).
      Mr Burke moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
      Debate ensued.
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      Suspension of sitting: The sitting was suspended between 11.59 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.
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      Debate resumed.
      Question - put and passed.
9. AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - NORTHERN TERRITORY AUDITOR-GENERALS OFFICE - PAPER TABLED - MOTION TO NOTE PAPER:
    The Chief Minister (Mr Stone) laid on the Table the audited Financial Statements for the Northern Territory Auditor-Generals Office for the year ended 30 June 1995 by Pannell Kerr Forster, Chartered Accountants (Paper 2046).
      Mr Stone made a statement relating thereto.
      Mr Stone moved - That the Assembly take note of the Paper.
      On the motion of the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Ede) debate was adjourned.
10. ONSHORE PETROLEUM EXPLORATION PROMOTION - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - STATEMENT NOTED:
    The Minister for Mines and Energy (Mr Reed) made a Statement relating to the Territory Governments campaign to attract further onshore petroleum exploration to the Northern Territory (Paper 2047).
      Mr Reed moved - That the Assembly take note of the Statement.
      Debate ensued.
    Papers tabled: The Minister for Mines and Energy (Mr Reed) laid on the Table the following Papers -

    Australian Petroleum Fact Sheets, Department of Mines and Energy (Paper 2054);
      Petroleum Tenements, Offshore and Onshore, February 1995, Department of Mines and Energy (Paper 2053);
      Petroleum Prospects and Leads of Australias Northern Territory, Department of Mines and Energy (Paper 2051);
      Oil and Gas in Australias Northern Territory, Department of Mines and Energy (Paper 2052); and
      Petroleum Basin Studies in Australias Northern Territory, Department of Mines and Energy (Paper 2055).

      Question - put and passed.
11. PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT, 1994-95 AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE REPORT ON THE AUDITOR-GENERALS ANNUAL REPORTS, 1992-93 - PAPERS TABLED - PAPERS PRINTED - PAPERS NOTED:
    The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (Mr Setter) laid on the Table the following Papers -

      Report No. 23, Public Accounts Committee Annual Report for the Year ended 30 June 1995, dated October 1995 (Paper 2059); and

      Report No. 24, Public Accounts Committee Report on the Auditor-Generals Annual Report, 1992-93, dated October 1995 (Paper 2060).

      Mr Setter moved - That the Papers be printed.
      Question - put and passed.
    Leave denied: The Member for Wanguri (Mr Bailey) sought leave to move a motion to have the reports considered separately.
    Objection being raised - leave denied.

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    Suspension of Standing Orders - take Reports separately - Motion negatived: The Member for Wanguri (Mr Bailey) thereupon moved - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent him moving a motion to have the Reports considered separately.
    Debate ensued.
    The Deputy Chief Minister (Mr Reed) moved - That the question be now put.
    Question - That the question be now put - put and passed.
    Question - That the motion to suspend Standing Orders be agreed to - put and negatived.
    Mr Setter moved - That the Assembly take note of the Papers.
    Debate ensued.
    Leave denied: The Member for Wanguri (Mr Bailey) sought leave to make a selective quote of unpublished evidence presented to the Public Accounts Committee.
    Objection being raised - leave denied.
    Debate continued.
    Leave denied: Mr Bailey sought leave to pass documents to the Chief Minister (Mr Stone).
    Objection being raised - leave denied.
    Debate continued.
    Paper tabled: The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Ede), by leave, laid on the Table the following Paper -
      Letter, Hon Fred Finch, MLA, Minister for Health Services to Mr Rick Setter, MLA, Chairman, Public Accounts Committee, dated 8 August 1995 (Paper 2061).

    The Member for Nhulunbuy (Mr Stirling) moved - That debate be adjourned.
    Question - put and negatived.
    Debate continued.
    Papers tabled: The Minister for Health Services (Mr Finch) laid on the Table the following Papers -
      Memorandum, Department of Mines and Energy, Secretary to Principal Registrar re: Certificate of Exemption, dated 17 November 1994, signed 18 November 1994 (Paper 2056);
      Proforma, Certificate of Exemption from Public Quotations issued by Accountable Officer or his Delegate (Paper 2057); and
      Memorandum, Department of Asian Relations, Trade and Industry, Chairman, Procurement Review Board to Minister re Certificates of Exemption, dated 18 October 1995 (Paper 2058).

    Debate continued.
    Question - put and passed.
12. LANDS ACQUISITION AMENDMENT BILL (No. 2) 1995 (Serial 104):
    The Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment (Mr Reed), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Lands Acquisition Act.
      Bill read a first time.
      Mr Reed moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
      On the motion of the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Ede) debate was adjourned.

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13. POISONS AND DANGEROUS DRUGS AMENDMENT BILL (No. 2) 1995 (Serial 117):
    The Minister for Health Services (Mr Finch), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Poisons and Dangerous Drugs Act.
      Bill read a first time.
      Mr Finch moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
      On the motion of the Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mrs Hickey) debate was adjourned.

14. CRIMINAL CODE AMENDMENT BILL (No. 4) 1995 (Serial 110):
    The Attorney-General (Mr Hatton), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code.
      Bill read a first time.
      Mr Hatton moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
      On the motion of the Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell) debate was adjourned.

15. CRIMINAL CODE AMENDMENT BILL 1995 (Serial 112):
    The Attorney-General (Mr Hatton), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code.
      Bill read a first time.
      Mr Hatton moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
      On the motion of the Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell) debate was adjourned.

16. TRUSTEE AMENDMENT BILL (No. 2) 1995 (Serial 115):
    The Attorney-General (Mr Hatton), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Trustee Act.
      Bill read a first time.
      Mr Hatton moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
      On the motion of the Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell) debate was adjourned.

17. CLASSIFICATION OF PUBLICATIONS AND FILMS AMENDMENT BILL 1995 (Serial 116):
    The Attorney-General (Mr Hatton), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Classification of Publications and Films Act to give effect to the Commonwealth/State/Territory scheme for the classification of publications, films and computer games set out in the Classification of (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 of the Commonwealth, by providing for the enforcement of decisions made under that Act and prohibiting the publishing of certain publications, films and computer games, and for related purposes.
      Bill read a first time.
      Mr Hatton moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
      On the motion of the Member for Macdonnell (Mr Bell) debate was adjourned.

18. PRIVATE SECURITY BILL 1995 (Serial 118):
    The Attorney-General (Mr Hatton), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to provide for the regulation of the provision of security services and for related purposes.
      Bill read a first time.
      Mr Hatton moved - That the Bill be now read a second time.
      On the motion of the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Ede) debate was adjourned.

page 409

19. NORTHERN TERRITORY PRODUCTS SYMBOL AMENDMENT BILL 1995 (Serial 114):
    Suspension of Standing Orders - Pass all stages: The Minister for Asian Relations, Trade and Industry (Mr Poole) moved - That so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the Northern Territory Products Symbol Amendment Bill 1995 (Serial 114) passing through all stages at this sitting.
    Question - put and passed - there being an absolute majority of the whole number of Members present and no dissentient voice.
    The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question - That the Bill be now read a second time -
      Debate ensued.
      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 Asian Relations, Trade and Industry (Mr Poole) the Bill was read a third time and passed to be a proposed law.

20. ADJOURNMENT:
    The Minister for Asian Relations, Trade and Industry (Mr Poole) moved - That the Assembly do now adjourn.
      Debate ensued.
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    Special adjournment: The Chief Minister (Mr Stone), by leave, moved - That this Assembly at its rising adjourn until Tuesday 21 November 1995 at 10.00 a.m. or such other time and/or date as may be set by Mr Speaker, pursuant to Sessional Order.
      Question - put and passed.
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      Debate continued.
    And the Assembly adjourned at 10.13 p.m. until 10.00 a.m. on Tuesday 21 November 1995 or such other time and/or date as may be set by Mr Speaker pursuant to Sessional Order.
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      PAPERS:
      The following Papers were deemed to have been presented on Thursday 19 October 1995:

      Annual Reports:

      Anti-Discrimination Commission, 1994-95 (Paper 2042)
      Attorney-Generals Department, 1994-95 (Department of Law) (Paper 2030)
      Ayers Rock Resort Corporation and Controlled Entities, year ended 30 June 1995
      (Paper 2049)
      Batchelor College, 1994 (Paper 2027)
      Department of the Chief Minister, 1994-95 (Paper 2031)
      Department of Correctional Services, 1994-95 (Paper 2037)
      Department of Health and Community Services, 1994-95 (Paper 2036)
      Department of Lands, Housing and Local Government, 1994-95 (Paper 2032)
      Department of Mines and Energy, 1994-95 (Paper 2040)
      Heritage Advisory Council, 1994-95 (Paper 2035)

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      Mental Health Act, 1994-95 (Paper 2026)
      Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, 1994-95 (Paper 2050)
      Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission, 1994-95 (Paper 2038)
      Northern Territory Treasury Corporation, 1994-95 (Paper 2039)
      Northern Territory Treasury, 1994-95 (Paper 2041)
      Office of Aboriginal Development, 1994-95 (Paper 2033)
      Office of the Arts and Cultural Affairs, 1993-94 (Paper 2043)
      Office of the Arts and Cultural Affairs, 1994-95 (Paper 2064)
      Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment, 1994-95 (Paper 2028)
      Office of Courts Administration, 1994-95 (Paper 2034)
      Power and Water Authority, 1994-95 (Paper 2048)
      Trade Development Zone Authority, 1994-95 (Paper 2029)
      Work Health Authority and Work Health Advisory Council, 1994-95 (Paper 2044)
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      ATTENDANCE:

      All Members attended the sitting.

      Ian McNeill
      Clerk of the Legislative Assembly

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Last updated: 04 Aug 2016